Stress mediates the association between atopic dermatitis and sleep duration in Korean adults

Studies have reported that patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) exhibit varying outcomes in sleep quality and duration, influenced by psychological factors, but few studies have investigated their mediating effects. Therefore, this study aimed to examine how psychological factors, particularly perceived stress, affect the sleep duration of patients with AD. Data from the fourth to seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 2007 to 2018 were analyzed, including 64,942 Korean adults aged ≥ 19 years, excluding those without data on AD or sleep duration. The diagnostic status of AD among participants was analyzed to determine whether stress mediated the relationship between AD and sleep duration. The results showed that although AD did not directly affect sleep duration, sleep duration varied depending on the perceived stress. Mediation analysis demonstrated that stress effectively mediated the relationship between AD and sleep duration. This study highlights that although AD does not directly affect sleep duration, perceived stress plays a substantial mediating role. These findings underscore the importance of psychological management in improving sleep and the overall quality of life in patients with AD.