Which Dark Personality Traits Could Predict Insomnia? The Mediated Effects of Perceived Stress and Ethical Judgments

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dark personality traits and insomnia by considering the mediated effects of perceived stress and ethical judgments. This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 464 university athlete students from individual and team sports. Dark Triad Scale (DTS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Moral Content Judgment in Sport Questionnaire (MCJSQ) were used. Significant correlation coefficients were observed between the dark personality traits and other variables. Regression analysis showed that psychopathy (about 19%) and ethical judgments (about 16%) could predict insomnia. It was shown that among dark personality traits, psychopathy along with ethical judgments could predict insomnia.

Personality and insomnia: A systematic review and narrative synthesis

“…Most studies collected cross‐sectional data, with N = 10 employing a longitudinal design (Akram et al, 2015; Dørheim et al, 2016; Ellis et al, 2021; Husson et al, 2015; Jansson‐Fröjmark & Linton, 2007; Larsgård & Saksvik‐Lehouillier, 2017; Reeve et al, 2018; Singareddy et al, 2012; Sørengaard et al 2022; Trudel‐Fitzgerald et al, 2017). Moreover, N = 15 studies restricted sampling to students (Brand et al, 2015; Emert et al, 2017; Fabbri et al, 2022; Lauriola et al, 2019; Lukowski & Tsukerman, 2021; Ma et al, 2020; Polner et al, 2018; Zamani Sani et al, 2023; Schmidt et al, 2010, 2018; Scott et al, 2017; Shealy et al, 1980; Yuksel et al, 2022; Uygur et al, 2023). Most studies ( N = 44) sampled individuals experiencing symptoms of insomnia, whereas the remaining sampled individuals meeting the appropriate diagnostic criterion for insomnia at the time of data collection ( N = 32) and deployed questionnaires assessing insomnia‐symptoms.…”

“…Whilst these relationships were replicated amongst a sample of the UK general population using a measure of insomnia symptomology, only psychopathy predicted insomnia symptoms when shared variance between dark triad traits was controlled for (Akram, Allen, et al, 2018; Akram, McCarty, et al, 2018). Recent data sampling Iranian student athletes found psychopathic tendencies, but not Machiavellianism or narcissism, to be associated with symptoms of insomnia after controlling for perceived stress (Zamani Sani et al, 2023). See Table 6 for full study details.…”

“…To date, three studies have examined the relationship between insomnia and the dark triad traits (Akram, Allen, et al, 2018; Akram, McCarty, et al, 2018; Sabouri et al, 2016; Zamani Sani et al, 2023). Sampling young Iranian adults, Sabouri et al (2016) determined that symptoms of insomnia were independently correlated with greater reports of psychopathy and Machiavellianism, but not narcissism.…”

“…Employing the MMPI to examine personality and psychopathology found that insomnia is linked to higher levels of hypochondriasis, psychasthenia, and hysteria. Furthermore, using the dark triad approach yielded mixed evidence regarding the relationship of insomnia with narcissism and antisocial personality traits (Akram, Allen, et al, 2018; Akram, McCarty, et al, 2018; Sabouri et al, 2016; Zamani Sani et al, 2023). Against this background, it can be reasonably argued that maladaptive personality traits are important for understanding the development and maintenance of insomnia.…”

“…Recent data sampling Iranian student athletes found psychopathic tendencies, but not Machiavellianism or narcissism, to be associated with symptoms of insomnia after controlling for perceived stress (Zamani Sani et al, 2023). See Table 6 for full study details.…”