Too imperfect to fall asleep: Perfectionism, pre-sleep counterfactual processing, and insomnia

[en] Previous research suggests that certain dimensions of perfectionism are associated with insomnia. However, the exact processes whereby perfectionism may influence sleep have as yet remained unexplored. The present study tested the hypothesis that perfectionistic individuals are particularly prone to engage in counterfactual thinking and to experience counterfactual emotions (regret, shame, and guilt) at bedtime, which have been shown to impair sleep. One hundred eighty university students completed questionnaires on perfectionism, counterfactual processing, and insomnia severity. Analyses revealed that three dimensions of perfectionism were significantly related to insomnia severity: Concern over mistakes and doubts about action showed positive correlations, whereas organization showed a negative correlation. Moreover, the frequency of counterfactual thoughts and emotions at bedtime largely mediated the effects of these dimensions of perfectionism on insomnia severity. These findings highlight how personality-related patterns of behavior may translate into affective arousal at bedtime, thereby increasing the risk of insomnia. © 2018 Schmidt, Courvoisier, Cullati, Kraehenmann and Van der Linden.

Disciplines :

Neurosciences & behavior

Author, co-author :

Schmidt, Ralh E.; Cognitive Psychopathology and Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Courvoisier, Delphine S.; Department of General Internal Medicine, Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

Cullati, Stéphane; Department of General Internal Medicine, Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research 'LIVES, Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives', Institute of Demography and Socioeconomics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

Kraehenmann, Rainer; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Van der Linden, Martial ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Psychologie > Département de Psychologie

Language :

English

Title :

Too imperfect to fall asleep: Perfectionism, pre-sleep counterfactual processing, and insomnia

Publication date :

2018

Journal title :

Frontiers in Psychology

eISSN :

1664-1078

Publisher :

Frontiers Media S.A., Switzerland

Volume :

Issue :

AUG

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 14 December 2019

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