The Cognitive Attentional Syndrome is Associated With Sleep Difficulties in a Community Sample.
We examined whether a process common to anxiety, labeled the cognitive attentional syndrome (CAS), is also associated with sleep disturbances. The CAS represents the sustained use of self-regulating strategies, such as rumination and worry, and beliefs individuals hold about such strategies. Using a sample of community adults located in the United States (N = 226), we found that the CAS was positively associated with sleep difficulties. The association remained intact after controlling for demographic variables, physical health, and negative affect. We further found that self-regulating strategies may be the component of the CAS that is most important to sleep disturbances. Future experimental studies are needed to elucidate whether there exists a causal, and potentially bidirectional, link between the CAS and sleep difficulties.
a Department of Psychology and Neuroscience , Baylor University , Waco , Texas.
Thomas A
TA
Fergus
a Department of Psychology and Neuroscience , Baylor University , Waco , Texas.
Michael K
MK
Scullin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013577:Syndrome; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult