Linking impulsivity to dysfunctional thought control and insomnia: A structural equation model

Impulsivity; Insomnia; Personality; Suppression; Thought-control strategies; Worry; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anxiety Disorders; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Borderline Personality Disorder; Cognition Disorders; Female; Humans; Impulse Control Disorders; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Questionnaires; Severity of Illness Index; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Thinking; Young Adult

Abstract :

[en] Summary According to cognitive models of insomnia, excessive mental activity at bedtime may be viewed as an important impediment to the process of falling asleep. A further assumption of these models is that 'cognitive arousal' may be perpetuated and exacerbated by counterproductive strategies of thought management. As yet, little is known about factors that may predispose people to rely on these strategies when confronted with thoughts that keep them awake at night. This study examined the relations between impulsivity, use of different thought-control strategies and insomnia severity. A sample of 391 university students completed the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale, the Thought Control Questionnaire Insomnia-Revised and the Insomnia Severity Index. Correlation analyses revealed that two facets of impulsivity (urgency and lack of perseverance), two strategies of thought control (aggressive suppression and worry) and insomnia severity were positively associated. Follow-up structural equation modeling analyses showed that the two mentioned thought-control strategies mediated the effects of the two facets of impulsivity on sleep problems. These findings extend existing cognitive accounts of insomnia by suggesting how predisposing and perpetuating factors may be related: specific personality traits may incline individuals to respond with dysfunctional thought-control strategies to unwanted mental activity at night. © 2009 European Sleep Research Society.

Disciplines :

Neurosciences & behavior

Author, co-author :

Schmidt, Ralph E.; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, Cognitive Psychopathology and Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

Gay, Philippe; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, Cognitive Psychopathology and Neuropsychology Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

Ghisletta, Paolo; Methodology and Data Analysis Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

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

Language :

English

Title :

Linking impulsivity to dysfunctional thought control and insomnia: A structural equation model

Publication date :

2010

Journal title :

Journal of Sleep Research

ISSN :

0962-1105

eISSN :

1365-2869

Publisher :

Wiley, Oxford, United Kingdom

Volume :

Issue :

1 PART. 1

Pages :

3-11

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 19 January 2020

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