Many people who struggle with sleep also have problems with drinking too much alcohol. In fact, estimates suggest that between one-third and 91% of people with insomnia also misuse alcohol.
A new study shows that stress and depression are key reasons behind this connection, but which one matters most depends on whether sleep or drinking problems come first.
The research, led by scientists at The Ohio State University and the University of Kentucky, found that people with insomnia often turn to alcohol because of stress. On the other hand, people who already drink heavily often develop insomnia because of depression.
“We wanted to understand how insomnia leads to drinking, and we found stress is the main factor. But when drinking comes first, depression is more likely to lead to sleep problems,” said Dr. Jessica Weafer, senior author of the study.
She explained that these findings could help improve treatment. For example, if stress is causing people with insomnia to drink more, then treating the stress might prevent alcohol problems.
The study, published in the journal Alcohol, included 405 adults who had sleep problems and drank heavily. Participants answered surveys about their sleep quality, drinking habits, stress levels, and depression symptoms. The researchers then used different statistical models to study how these factors influenced each other.
Stress and depression can overlap but aren’t the same. Stress usually comes from life situations that feel overwhelming, while depression involves sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in things.
Justin Verlinden, a PhD student and lead author of the study, said, “There are many ways sleep and alcohol use can be connected. We wanted to figure out if stress or depression helps explain why.”
The results showed that both stress and depression play roles, but their influence changes depending on which problem starts first. When insomnia leads to alcohol use, stress seems to be the stronger link. When alcohol use leads to insomnia, depression is the bigger factor.
The researchers described these links as “partial indirect paths,” meaning there are likely other factors that contribute too. For example, things like anxiety, lifestyle habits, or genetics might also affect the relationship between sleep and drinking.
This study offers a snapshot in time, but the team is currently collecting long-term data to better understand how these issues develop over time. They are following participants for 12 months to learn how insomnia, stress, and depression evolve and affect drinking behavior.
The team is also testing an online treatment called SHUTi (Sleep Healthy Using the Internet). This program uses digital cognitive behavioral therapy to treat insomnia. In an earlier study, SHUTi helped reduce insomnia in heavy drinkers, even though it didn’t focus on alcohol use directly.
The research was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the University of Kentucky.
If you care about depression, please read studies about vegetarianism linked to higher risk of depression, and Vitamin D could help reduce depression symptoms.
For more information about health, please see recent studies that ultra-processed foods may make you feel depressed, and these antioxidants could help reduce the risk of dementia.
The study is published in Alcohol.
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