Brief Behavioral Intervention to Maintain Sleep Regularity in Young Adults Over the Christmas Break

REST Trial: Effects of a Brief Behavioral Intervention to Maintain Sleep Regularity in Young Adults Over the Christmas Break

This study will employ a randomized controlled trial design to investigate the effects of a brief behavioral intervention that includes (1) self-recording of a regularity-focused sleep diary, (2) 10 strategies for maintaining sleep regularity, and (3) a sleep education information sheet on the maintenance of sleep regularity in young adults during the Christmas break.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Young adults aged 18-24 years;
2. Will stay in Hong Kong during the study period;
3. Will not engage in any activities that require a fixed sleep or wake-up time (e.g., work or study during the holiday period) as these activities could regularize the sleep schedule and potentially contaminate the results.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Have been in a different time zone within two weeks before the baseline assessment;
2. Diagnosed with circadian rhythm disorders such as delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWD), advanced sleep-wake phase disorder (ASWD), irregular sleep-wake rhythm disorder (ISWRD), and non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder (N24WSD);
3. Diagnosed with sleep disorders that directly/indirectly interfere with sleep regularity (e.g., insomnia, sleep apnea);
4. Use of medications or treatment that may influence sleep regularity (e.g., hypnotics, antidepressants);
5. Diagnosed with serious physical or mental diseases such as cancer, end-stage liver or kidney diseases, schizophrenia, and psychosis.