Demographic, lifestyle, social, and psychological factors associated with worry‐related sleep problems among school‐going adolescents in Timor‐Leste

Objective Adolescent sleep problems are a worldwide public health issue. The present study examines factors associated with worry‐related sleep problems among school‐going adolescents. The country of interest is Timor‐Leste, a low‐income country, where studies pertaining to adolescent sleep problems are lacking. Design and Measures Data were analysed from the Global School‐Based Student Health Survey Timor‐Leste (n = 3455). An ordered probit model was used to assess the effects of demographic, lifestyle, social, and psychological factors on different levels of worry‐related sleep problems (i.e., no, mild and severe sleep problems). Results School‐going adolescents were more likely to face mild or severe worry‐related sleep problems if they were older, passive smokers, alcohol drinkers and moderately active. School‐going adolescents who sometimes or always went hungry were more likely to experience worry‐related sleep problems than those who did not. Involvement in physical fights, being bullied, and loneliness were positively associated with the probability of having modest or severe worry‐related sleep problems. Conclusion Age, exposure to second‐hand smoke, alcohol consumption, physical activity, going hungry, physical fights, being bullied and loneliness are the important determining factors of adolescent worry‐related sleep problems. Policymakers should pay special attention to these factors when formulating intervention measures.