Examining the Mediating Role of Sleep Duration in the Relationship between Psychosocial Factors and Post-Traumatic Stress among COVID-19 Survivors

Kunal Raghuraj Raut1, Dr. Shafiq Yusufkhan Pathan2*

1Ph.D Scholar, Department of Psychology, Government Vidarbha Institute of Arts and Humanities, Amravati (Maharashtra State), India
2*Assistant Professor and Head, Department of Psychology, Vasantrao Naik Government Institute of Arts and Social Sciences, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
1Email: rajraut1237@gmail.com
ORCID: 0009-0007-8524-7385
2*Email: shafiqpsy@gmail.com (Corresponding Author)
ORCID: 0000-0002-7722-2766

Received: ; Revised: ; Accepted: ; Available Online:

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant source of psychological trauma, with survivors exhibiting heightened rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While psychosocial factors like perceived vulnerability and resilience are known correlates, the mechanisms linking them to PTSD are not fully understood. This study investigates the mediating role of sleep duration and the moderating effect of gender in this relationship. A cross-sectional sample of 400 COVID-19 survivors (Duration from 2021-2022) participated in a study that employed standardized measures to assess perceived vulnerability, resilience, sleep duration, and symptoms of PTSD. Correlation analysis demonstrated significant associations, showing that greater perceived vulnerability correlated with higher PTSD symptoms, while higher resilience and longer sleep duration were associated with lower PTSD symptoms. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) revealed that perceived vulnerability exerted a direct positive effect on PTSD symptoms, whereas resilience demonstrated both direct and indirect effects, with the latter being partially mediated by increased sleep duration. Furthermore, multi-group analysis confirmed the moderating role of gender; specifically, the relationship between vulnerability and PTSD was stronger in female participants, whereas the link between resilience and PTSD was marginally more pronounced in male participants. The findings provide a nuanced model for understanding PTSD in survivors, emphasizing the importance of sleep duration as a critical behavioral pathway through which resilience can offer protective benefits. This underscores the necessity of integrating sleep-focused strategies and gender-sensitive approaches into post-trauma mental health interventions for this population.

Keywords: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Sleep Duration, COVID-19 Survivors, Resilience, Perceived Vulnerability

How to cite this article: Raut KR, Pathan SY, Examining the Mediating Role of Sleep Duration in the Relationship between Psychosocial Factors and Post-Traumatic Stress among COVID-19 Survivors. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(4s): 316-331; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.4s.38