Zhang Minghui,Zhang Xinmeng,Ye Wenjing,Zhang Xiaotao,Song Hongtao,Yao Gaofeng,Influence of perceived stress on sleep quality among resident physicians： the chain mediating role of self-control and anxiety emotions[J].SICHUAN MENTAL HEALTH,2026,(2):165-170

Influence of perceived stress on sleep quality among resident physicians： the chain mediating role of self-control and anxiety emotions

DOI：10.11886/scjsws20251220001

English keywords:Resident physician Perceived stress Self-control Anxiety emotions Sleep quality

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Author Name	Affiliation	Postcode
Zhang Minghui	1School of Mental Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233000, China	233000
Zhang Xinmeng	1School of Mental Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233000, China	233000
Ye Wenjing	1School of Mental Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233000, China	233000
Zhang Xiaotao	2Fuyang People's Hospital, Fuyang 236000, China	236000
Song Hongtao	1School of Mental Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233000, China	233000
Yao Gaofeng^*	3The Third People's Hospital of Fuyang, Fuyang 236000, China	236000

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English abstract:

Background Resident physicians represent a high-risk group for sleep disorders， exhibiting a significantly higher prevalence of such conditions compared with the general population， which severely impairs their physical and mental health. It is hypothesized that perceived stress negatively impacts sleep quality through psychological mechanisms， such as depleting self-control resources and triggering anxiety. However， this pathway warrants empirical validation.Objective To explore the mediating role of self-control and anxiety emotions in the association between perceived stress and sleep quality among resident physicians， and to elucidate the underlying psychological mechanisms， aiming at providing theoretical basis for developing targeted psychological interventions.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in April 2025. First- to third- year resident physicians at a hospital in Fuyang City were recruited as participants （n=372）. The Chinese Perceived Stress Scales （CPSS）， the Chinese version of the Dual-Mode of Self-Control Scale （DMSC-S）， the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI）， and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 item （GAD-7） were used for group testing. The model 6 of the Process macro version 4.1 was ultilized to examine the mediating pathway of self-control and anxiety emotions between perceived stress and sleep quality.Results A total of 322 valid questionnaires were collected， yielding an effective responsive rate of 86.56%. Among the respondents， 146 （45.34%） reported poor sleep quality. The CPSS score and GAD-7 score of resident physicians were positively correlated with the PSQI score （r=0.727， 0.784， P<0.01）， while the DMSC-S score was negatively correlated with the PSQI score （r=-0.615， P<0.01）. Perceived stress directly and positively predicted poor sleep quality （B=0.124， P<0.01）， with the direct effect accounting for 31.39% of the total effect. Furthermore， perceived stress indirectly affected sleep quality through the independent mediating effects of self-control and anxiety emotions. The indirect effect values of 0.053 （95% CI： 0.019 - 0.091） and 0.192 （95% CI： 0.141 - 0.249）， accounting for 13.42% and 48.61% of the total effect， respectively. Perceived stress also impact sleep quality through the serial mediating effect of self-control and anxiety， with the indirect effect value of 0.026 （95% CI： 0.005 - 0.049）， accounting for 6.58% of the total effect.Conclusion The perceived stress of resident physicians can influence sleep quality by impairing self-control， exacerbating anxiety， and through the serial mediation of both factors.

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