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The present study prospectively investigated the association between family life stress and insomnia symptoms among 115 undergraduates, ages 17-22 years. Participants completed the following questionnaires at 2 study time points, spaced 3 weeks apart: the Insomnia Severity Index, the Negative Life Events Questionnaire (NLEQ), and the Beck Depression Inventory. First, family life stress at baseline was hypothesized to predict elevated insomnia symptoms 3 weeks later, above and beyond depressive symptoms. Second, compared with academic stressors, negative family and social life events were expected to best predict increased insomnia. Regression analyses were conducted to test study predictions. Hypotheses were partially supported. Family life stress was significantly associated with increased insomnia symptomatology, even after controlling for depression. Results also revealed that negative family life events, together with academic stress, predicted the highest levels of insomnia.

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Does realism characterize good mental health or maladjustment? In this paper, it is argued that illusory views of social reality, even if self-enhancing, represent a feature of mental distress (not health). Two studies of unselected undergraduates and their same-sex roommates were reported. In Study 1, 466 undergraduates completed a measure of depressive symptoms, and provided global self-ratings; their roommates provided ratings of them. A curvilinear relation between self-other discrepancies and depressive symptoms was detected, in which discrepancies of any kind (even if self-enhancing) were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Using a similar design, Study 2 (N = 143) replicated this finding and extended it to other symptoms and to longitudinal analyses. It is concluded that illusory views of interpersonal reality (even if self-enhancing), far from bolstering adjustment, represent a pattern of attitudes that typifies maladjustment. Is it not clear too that through self-knowledge men come to much good, andthrough self-deception to much harm? For those who know themselves, know what things are expedient for themselves and discern their own powers and limitations. And by doing what they understand, they get what they want and prosper: by refraining from attempting what they do not understand, they make no mistakes and avoid failure. And consequently through their power of testing other men too, and through their intercourse with others, they get what is good and shun what is bad.

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