Perfectionism related to self-reported insomnia severity, but not when controlled for stress and emotion regulation

Abstract

BackgroundPerfectionism is understood as a set of personality traits such as unrealistically high and rigid standards for performance, fear of failure, and excessive self-criticism. Previous studies showed a direct association between increased perfectionism and poor sleep, though without taking into account possible mediating factors. Here, we tested the hypothesis that perfectionism was directly associated with poor sleep, and that this association collapsed, if mediating factors such as stress and poor emotion regulation were taken into account.MethodsThree hundred and forty six young adult students (M=23.87 years) completed questionnaires relating to perfectionism traits, sleep, and psychological functioning such as stress perception, coping with stress, emotion regulation, and mental toughness.ResultsPerfectionism was directly associated with poor sleep and poor psychological functioning. When stress, poor coping, and poor emotion regulation were entered in the equation, perfectionism traits no longer contributed substantively to the explanation of poor sleep.ConclusionThough perfectionism traits seem associated with poor sleep, the direct role of such traits seemed small, when mediating factors such as stress perception and emotion regulation were taken into account.

Perfectionism and Polysomnography-Determined Markers of Poor Sleep

“…14 With regard to subjective parameters of sleep, studies found that perfectionism is associated with sleep onset latency (SOL) 10,14,16 and wake after sleep onset (WASO). 14,16 Studies on perfectionism and sleep have relied on selfreported measures of sleep, and it has not been investigated whether higher levels of perfectionism are also linked to poor sleep as measured by polysomnography (PSG).…”

“…[11][12][13] Longitudinal studies suggest that perfectionism is indeed a risk factor for insomnia symptoms. 14,15 Further findings have shown that the link between insomnia symptoms and perfectionism may be mediated by emotional distress, 15 stress perception, and emotion regulation 16 or anxiety. 17 Perfectionism is often assessed using the Hewitt and Flett Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS) 18 or the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS).…”

“…10,19 Studies reporting on the association between insomnia symptoms and perfectionism showed that insomnia symptoms are associated with DA, 16,17 PS, 16 CM, 15,16 and PC. 17 In addition, it was reported that SPP is a predictor for insomnia symptoms.…”

“…11, 2017 AF Johann, E Hertenstein, SD Kyle, et al Poor Sleep and Perfectionism between insomnia and perfectionism showed that insomnia is associated with DA,9,19 PS, 9 CM,9,19 and PC. 10,19 Studies reporting on the association between insomnia symptoms and perfectionism showed that insomnia symptoms are associated with DA, 16,17 PS, 16 CM,15,16 and PC. 17 In addition, it was reported that SPP is a predictor for insomnia symptoms.…”

“…Indeed, most studies did not use the PSQI to assess sleep. Lundh et al (1994) 9 used a clinical interview, Brand et al (2015) 16 and Akram et al (2015) 17 used the Insomnia Severity Index, Jansson-Fröjmark and Linton (2007) 15 used the Basic Nordic Sleep Questionnaire and the Uppsala Sleep Inventory, and Azevedo et al (2010) 14 and Akram et al (2017) 19 used screening questions to assess sleep. Only Vincent and Walker (2000) 10 used the PSQI to assess sleep.…”