Facets of impulsivity are differentially linked to insomnia: evidence from an exploratory study.
This study investigated the association between insomnia and four facets of impulsivity as distinguished by Whiteside and Lynam (2001): urgency, (lack of) premeditation, (lack of) perseverance, and sensation seeking. A sample of 233 university students completed the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale, the Insomnia Severity Index, and a short questionnaire on sleep-related mentation. Correlational analyses revealed that urgency was related to insomnia severity and insomnia-related impairments in daytime functioning, and that lack of perseverance was related to insomnia-related impairments in daytime functioning. Follow-up analyses showed that the frequency of disturbing thoughts and visions during the pre-sleep period partially mediated the relation between urgency and sleep-initiation problems, and that the frequency of disturbing dreams and nightmares partially mediated the relation between urgency and sleep-maintenance problems. These findings suggest that the facets of impulsivity are differentially linked to insomnia and that urgency is associated with sleep-interfering nighttime mentation.
Schmidt
Ralph E
RE
Cognitive Psychopathology and Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Psychology and Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland. ralph.schmidt@pse.unige.ch
Gay
Philippe
P
Van der Linden
Martial
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012107:Research Design; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires