Future studies can examine the causal relationships

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the future-work section and recommendations and future work of the source papers, classified as general, spanning 4 journals.

Supporting evidence — 4 representative gaps

• Perceived stress and depression in Chinese university students: a parallel mediation analysis examining the roles of insomnia and somatic symptoms (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi

  Future studies should investigate the causal relationships between perceived stress, insomnia, somatic symptoms, and depression. Future studies should examine the effectiveness of interventions targeting sleep problems and somatic symptoms in preventing depression among university students. Future studies should explore the potential mechanisms that may account for the association between perceived stress and depression in different populations.

  generalfuture-work section
  Keywords: future studies investigate causal relationships between perceived stress
• Sleep Quality in the Emotional Symptoms and Well-Being of University Students (2026) · Chronobiology in Medicine · doi

  Universities may consider implementing periodic screening strategies that integrate sleep quality measures (e.g., PSQI) along- side brief indicators of anxiety, stress, and depression, framed as a descriptive and preventive approach rather than a diagnostic path- way [41,43]. These efforts can be complemented by the dissemi- nation of evidence-informed information about sleep regulation and common sleep difficulties, as well as the incorporation of clear referral pathways within university settings [23,44]. In line with current guidelines and research evidence, institu- tions may prioritize non-pharmacological approaches to sleep problems, particularly CBT-I, while avoiding the prescriptive ap- plication of clinical interventions in non-clinical academic con- texts [21,23,44]. In this regard, digital and app-based tools with personalized feedback may serve as scalable options for health promotion and self-management support, with demonstrated ef- fectiveness in improving sleep outcomes and reducing insomnia severity among university students [22]. Johanna Cristina Bocanegra Sandoval, et al104 / CIM Finally, prevention and intervention strategies should adopt a context-sensitive perspective, taking into account sex differences, patterns of stress and daytime functioning, and fluctuations asso- ciated with academic demands [15,16,45]. Although causal rela- tionships cannot be inferred, integrating sleep-related indicators into broader awareness and referral frameworks for psychologi- cal distress and suicidal ideation may support early identification and prevention efforts in university populations [12,13,45,46].

  generalrecommendationsevidence 5/5
  Keywords: sleep university strategies indicators stress efforts evidence referral clinical academic support prevention universities consider implementing
• The historical and contemporary aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in recent 30 years: a bibliometric study (2026) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi

  sleep hygiene insomnia treatment dysfunctional beliefs comorbid insomnia effective treatment chronic pain effect size general population sleep onset latency primary care treating insomnia confidence interval major depression cognitive therapy intervention group sleep restriction risk factor anxiety disorder primary insomnia poor sleep 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1878379

  generalfuture workevidence 5/5
  Keywords: sleep insomnia treatment primary hygiene dysfunctional beliefs comorbid effective chronic pain effect size general population
• Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors predict the association between sleep health and depression (2026) · medRxiv · doi

  Future studies can examine the causal relationships between socioeconomic and lifestyle factors and sleep-related depression - Future studies can develop interventions targeting the identified predictors - Future studies can examine the generalizability of the findings to other populations

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: future studies examine causal relationships between socioeconomic lifestyle

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