Gender and cognitive–emotional factors as predictors of pre-sleep arousal and trait hyperarousal in insomnia

Abstract

Objective Elevated pre-sleep arousal has been consistently associated with insomnia, yet the cognitive-emotional mechanisms involved in sleep-related arousal remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of pre-sleep arousal and trait hyperarousal from a set of variables that included self-reported affect, sleep-related cognitions, locus of control, and gender. Methods Cross-sectional data were analyzed for 128 participants (89 female) who met criteria for psychophysiological insomnia and completed a set of questionnaires that included the Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep (BAS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Negative Subscale (nPANAS) and Positive Subscale (pPANAS)), Sleep Locus of Control (SLOC), Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS), Hyperarousal Scale (HAS) and demographic information. Step-wise regression was conducted with a set of independent variables, with PSAS and HAS serving as separate dependent variables. Results Trait hyperarousal was associated with higher levels of both negative and positive emotionality, as well as negative beliefs about sleep, in both genders. Pre-sleep arousal was associated with greater negative emotionality and internal sleep locus of control, varying by gender. Among women, high pre-sleep arousal was associated with negative emotionality, while in men greater pre-sleep arousal was associated with an internal sleep locus of control. Conclusion These findings have clinical implications, suggesting that men and women may require different cognitive targets when addressing pre-sleep arousal.

The Integrative Role of the Sigh in Psychology, Physiology, Pathology, and Neurobiology

“…Examples are posttraumatic stress disorder (Edmondson and Cohen, 2013; Perez et al, 2012), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Antshel et al, 2013; Hanson et al, 2012), general anxiety disorder (Brunet et al, 2013; Hoge et al, 2013), insomnia (Hantsoo et al, 2013; Killgore et al, 2013; Vincent and Walsh, 2013; Wallhausser-Franke et al, 2013), and Fragile X syndrome (Berry-Kravis et al, 2012; Heilman et al, 2011). Autonomic dysregulation is an aspect of some of these disorders, but sighs have not been specifically characterized in these disorders, (Beauchaine et al, 2007; Heilman et al, 2011; Kalk et al, 2011; Musser et al, 2013).…”

REM dream activity of insomnia sufferers: a systematic comparison with good sleepers

“…The most prominent model in dream research, the continuity hypothesis (Hall & Nordby, 1972), states that the dream is largely a reflection of the individuals' waking experiences (for a review, see Domhoff, 2003;2010). As such, this model could suggest that the negative pre-sleep cognitive arousal (for a review, see Hantsoo et al, 2013) experienced by patients with PI could translate into their dream activity, resulting in more negatively toned dreams. Moreover, knowing that patients suffering from PI generally display more neuroticism, and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and that insomnia is characterized by negative daily consequences and concerns such as physical/psychological health problems, fatigue, mood disturbances and cognitive alterations (Beaulieu-Bonneau, LeBlanc, Vérette, Dauvilliers, & Morin, 2007;Morin et al, 2011;Van de Laar et al, 2010), it would be reasonable to assume that the dreams of PIs would be negatively affected and they would report more nightmares than normal subjects.…”

Effect of restricting bedtime mobile phone use on sleep, arousal, mood, and working memory: A randomized pilot trial

“…Pre-sleep arousal was common among individuals with sleep disorders, and it was an important etiological factor of insomnia disorders [21]. It has been reported that insomnia patients have somatic, cognitive, and cortical arousal [22][23][24][25]. Sleep plays a very important role in mediating multiple domains of affective functioning including emotion, emotion memory, and emotion regulation.…”