Sex differences in sleep and alcohol consumption outcomes following a digital insomnia intervention.
Drug Alcohol DependAug 19, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchPsychiatry
Justin J Verlinden, Mairead E Moloney, Olga A Vsevolozhskaya et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial examined sex differences in sleep and alcohol consumption outcomes following a digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (SHUTi) among 184 heavy drinking individuals with insomnia. Results indicated that SHUTi was more effective in improving sleep and reducing alcohol consumption in females compared to males, with effect sizes for females ranging from 0.92 to 2.23.
Key findings
- SHUTi led to stronger improvements in sleep outcomes for females than males (p ≤ 0.038).
- Females in the SHUTi group showed larger reductions in alcohol consumption compared to males.
- Cohen's d for alcohol reduction in SHUTi females ranged from 0.92 to 2.23, while for males it ranged from 0.65 to 1.95.
Why it matters
Understanding sex differences in treatment responses can inform tailored interventions for insomnia and alcohol use disorders, potentially enhancing treatment efficacy and outcomes for affected individuals.