JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Poor sleep is closely linked to mental health and workplace burnout, and many struggle to get enough restorative sleep.

Objective:

This study examined how engagement with a multi-modal employer-sponsored digital mental health platform impacted perceived sleep quality over time, and whether improvements were associated with changes in mental health and burnout.

Methods:

Working adults (N = 578, 61.1% women, Mage = 33.9 years, 40.3% people of color) newly registered for the platform completed measures of self-rated sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and burnout, at baseline, 3-months, and 12-months. Participants engaged with at least one care modality (virtual therapy, coaching, or digital resources). We examined baseline associations, changes in sleep quality, and longitudinal associations with mental health and burnout.

Results:

At baseline, 42% reported poor sleep quality and were more likely to have higher depression, anxiety, and burnout. Each month of platform use increased the odds of good sleep quality by 3.73% (p = .02). Higher sleep quality over time was associated with improvements in depression, anxiety, and burnout (ps < .001). The 44% of participants who improved their sleep from baseline to 12-months showed reduced depression (-48.25%) and anxiety (-38.33%), and increased cynicism burnout, though cynicism levels remained below the cut-off for high burnout (+24%; ps < .01).

Conclusions:

Use of a digital mental health platform was associated with meaningful improvements in sleep quality over 12-months. These gains were linked to reductions in depression, anxiety, and burnout, highlighting broader well-being benefits of integrated mental health care.