Emotion regulation mediates the relationship between personality and sleep quality

High Heart Rate Variability Buffers the Effect of Attachment Insecurity on Sleep Quality

OBJECTIVE

Sleep quality is an important health-protective factor. Psychosocial factors, including attachment orientation, may be valuable for understanding who is at risk of poor sleep quality and associated adverse health outcomes. High attachment anxiety is reliably associated with adverse health outcomes, whereas high attachment avoidance is associated with adverse health outcomes when co-occurring with poor self-regulatory capacity, indexed by heart rate variability (HRV). We examined the associations between attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, HRV, and sleep quality.

METHODS

Using longitudinal data from a sample of 171 older adults measured four times over 1 year ( M = 66.18 years old; 67.83% women), we separated the between-person variance (which we call "trait") and within-person variance (which we call "state") for attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and HRV (via the root mean square of successive differences). Sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

RESULTS

Higher trait attachment anxiety was associated with poorer global sleep quality ( B = 0.22, p = .005). Higher state attachment avoidance was associated with poorer sleep quality ( B = -0.13, p = .01), except for those with higher trait HRV. Higher state attachment anxiety was associated with poorer sleep quality ( B = -0.15, p = .002), except for those with higher or mean trait HRV. Higher trait attachment anxiety was associated with poorer sleep quality ( B = -0.31, p = .02), except for those with higher trait HRV.

CONCLUSIONS

High trait HRV mitigated the adverse effects of attachment insecurity on sleep quality. Our results suggest that people with high trait HRV had greater self-regulation capacity, which may enable them to enact emotion regulation strategies effectively.

Different emotion regulation strategies mediate the relations of corresponding connections within the default-mode network to sleep quality

Despite a long history of interest in the relation of emotion regulation to sleep quality, how different strategies link with sleep quality at the neural level is still poorly understood. Thus, we utilized the process model of emotion regulation as an organizing framework for examining the neurological underpinning of the links between the two emotion regulation strategies and sleep quality. 183 young adults (51.7% females, Mage = 22.16) were guided to undergo the MRI scans and then complete the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the emotion regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) formed by two dimensions: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Results found that emotion regulation mediated the association between functional connectivity within the intrinsic default-mode network (DMN) and sleep quality. Specifically, rsFC analysis showed that cognitive reappraisal was positively correlated with rsFC within DMN, including left superior temporal gyrus (lSTG)-left lateral occipital cortex (lLOC), lSTG-left anterior cingulate gyrus (lACG), right lateral occipital cortex (rLOC)-left middle frontal gyrus (lMFG), and rLOC-lSTG. Further mediation analysis indicated a mediated role of cognitive reappraisal in the links between the four connectivity within the DMN and sleep quality. In addition, expressive suppression was positively correlated with rsFC within DMN, including left precuneus cortex (lPrcu)-right Temporal Pole (rTP) and lPrcu- lSTG. Further mediation analysis indicated a mediated role of expressive suppression in the links between the two connectivity within the DMN and sleep quality. Overall, this finding supports the process model of emotion regulation in that the effects of reappraisal and suppression have varying neural circuits that impact that strategy's effect on sleep quality.

Bottom-Up and Cognitive Top-Down Emotion Regulation: Experiential Emotion Regulation and Cognitive Reappraisal on Stress Relief and Follow-Up Sleep Physiology

Emotional stress throughout the day is known to affect objective sleep physiology and subjective sleep quality. In the interplay between emotions and sleep, emotion regulation plays a critical role in the recovery from stressful, emotional events and subsequent sleep. While the effects of top-down emotion regulation strategies such as cognitive reappraisal on sleep have been studied before, the impact of bottom-up emotion regulation strategies such as experiential emotion regulation is understudied. Cognitive reappraisal reflects the cognitive reinterpretation of the meaning of a stressful event, while experiential emotion regulation involves an active, non-intervening, accepting, open and welcoming approach of acknowledging awareness of raw sensory affective experiences or 'experiential awareness' in a first phase and expression in a second phase. The present study aims to investigate the effects of experiential emotion regulation and cognitive reappraisal on the recovery from pre-sleep emotional stress measured by (1) negative affect and (2) sleep structure. Sleep of forty-three healthy Dutch-speaking participants (22 females, 21 males) has been assessed using EEG polysomnography. Stress was triggered using a pre-sleep emotional failure induction, after which emotion regulation by experiential emotion regulation versus cognitive reappraisal versus control was induced twice. The control condition consisted of the reallocation of attention towards the neutral aspects of the emotional event. The results indicated that recovery from negative affect of the failure experience after single or repeated deployment of experiential emotion regulation and cognitive reappraisal was not significantly different from the control condition. Moreover, after repeated deployment, sleep physiology did not significantly differ between experiential emotion regulation, cognitive reappraisal, and the control condition in the impact of the regulation of the failure experience. The implications of the distinctive impact of experiential emotion regulation and cognitive reappraisal on both the pre-sleep emotional experience and follow-up sleep physiology are discussed.

Positive rumination can (also) interfere with sleep: A study in a non-clinical sample

It is postulated that negative ruminations perpetuate insomnia symptoms by increasing arousal. Less is known about the role of positive rumination. In this study, we set out to test the association between positive and negative ruminations and insomnia symptoms in a non-clinical sample, asking whether reappraisal and suppression moderate the relationship between rumination types and symptoms of insomnia.

METHODS

A convenience sample of 354 participants (59% women), ages 18-50, responded to online questionnaires regarding symptoms of insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index [ISI]), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire that provides separate scales for Reappraisal and Suppression, Negative Rumination (Ruminative Response Scale), Positive Rumination and Dampening (Responses to Positive Affect questionnaire), and general health and demographics.

RESULTS

About 30% of respondents had moderate to severe symptoms of insomnia according to the ISI. The primary hypothesis was tested using three moderation models, where rumination type, emotion regulation styles, and interaction terms were predictors, and ISI scores were the outcome variable. Negative rumination positively predicted ISI (β = 0.56, p < 0.001), while the interaction terms with Reappraisal (β = 0.02, p = 0.575) and Suppression (β = 0.07, p = 0.092) were not significant. Dampening also positively predicted ISI (β = 0.56, p < 0.001), with the interaction term with Reappraisal nearly significant (β = -0.09, p = 0.060), but not with Suppression (β = 0.08, p =0.098). Positive rumination negatively predicted ISI (β = -0.12, p = 0.021), this relationship was reversed with emotion regulation factors in the model (β = 0.11, p = 0.094), where the interaction with Reappraisal (β = 0.13, p = 0.020) and Suppression (β = -0.13, p = 0.024) were both significant.

DISCUSSION

Positive Rumination weakly and negatively correlated with ISI, but the combination with Reappraisal was associated with more insomnia symptoms. By contrast, Dampening was associated with more insomnia symptoms, with minimal to no moderating effects. These observations are interpreted in the context of the role of emotion regulation strategies and sleep, and their potential clinical implications.

The Relationship of Neuroticism with Sleep Quality: The Mediating Role of Emotional, Cognitive and Metacognitive Factors

BACKGROUND

Poor sleep quality is associated with a broad range of psychopathology and is a common problem among college students. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of metacognitive beliefs related to sleep, emotion regulation and a negative cognitive style related to anxiety (looming cognitive style) in the relation between neuroticism and reported sleep quality.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were 343 undergraduates from three universities in Tehran (56.3% females, Mean age = 22.01 ± 2.74 years).

METHOD

Data were gathered with a questionnaire packet that included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Metacognitions Questionnaire-Insomnia (MCQ-I), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), Looming Maladaptive Style Questionnaire (LMSQ) and Neuroticism subscale of NEO-PI-R.

RESULTS

Structural equation modeling analyses supported a proposed model (R² = 37%) which proposed that neuroticism both directly and indirectly linked to reported sleep quality through metacognitions related to sleep, cognitive reappraisal and looming cognitive style (χ2 = 1194.87, p < .001; CFI = 0.93, NFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.065, GFI = 0.92, SRMR = 0.069, IFI = 0.93).

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide evidence for the impact of neuroticism on reported sleep quality through metacognitive, cognitive and emotional factors. The result suggest that special attention should be paid to these factors in the treatment and psychopathology of sleep quality.

Emotion regulation and healthy behaviors of the body energy balance in adults: A review of evidence

There is no document that analyzes the state of the art of scientific research published between 2013 and 2018 in relation to possible interdependence links between emotional regulation [ER] and healthy behaviors associated with Body Energy Balance [BEB] (physical activity, balanced diet and sleep hygiene). To achieve this purpose, an exploratory systematic review was conducted, whose search criteria were “emotion regulation”, “emotion dysregulation” connected with the Boolean operator “AND” to the keywords “sleep hygiene”, “eating behavior” and “physical activity”. Terms like “alexithymia”, “depression”, “stress”, “negative emotions”, and “rumination” were omitted. The methodological quality of the evidence was assessed with a patented rubric. After applying the analysis criteria, 35 articles were obtained, reporting theexistence of reciprocal associations and interactions between ER and at least one of the three behaviors associated with BEB were analyzed. It is concluded that, despite the importance of these behaviors in the vital maintenance of people and the clear impact that emotional regulation has on them, their research has not been sufficient, and more empirical studies in this regard in Latin America are needed.

Relationship between resilience and insomnia among the middle-aged and elderly: mediating role of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between cognitive emotion regulation (CER) strategies, resilience, and insomnia and the underlying mechanism that explains the relationships. Six hundred and fifty-three middle-aged and old people recruited from community service centers in Henan province completed questionnaires related to CER strategies, resilience, and insomnia. Results showed refocus on planning and positive reappraisal negatively predicted insomnia, and catastrophising, rumination and self-blame positively predicted insomnia. Moreover, maladaptive emotion regulation strategies (especially catastrophising) mediated the relationship between resilience and insomnia. The findings suggest the middle-aged and elderly with insomnia tended to employ maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and had lower resilience. Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies buffered the positive effect of resilience on sleep.

Insomnia in the Italian Population During Covid-19 Outbreak: A Snapshot on One Major Risk Factor for Depression and Anxiety

Objectives: One of the largest clusters of Covid-19 infections was observed in Italy. The population was forced to home confinement, exposing individuals to increased risk for insomnia, which is, in turn, associated with depression and anxiety. Through a cross-sectional online survey targeting all Italian adult population (≥18 yrs), insomnia prevalence and its interactions with relevant factors were investigated. Methods: The survey was distributed from 1st April to 4th May 2020. We collected information on insomnia severity, depression, anxiety, sleep hygiene behaviors, dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, circadian preference, emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility, perceived stress, health habits, self-report of mental disorders, and variables related to individual difference in life changes due to the pandemic's outbreak. Results: The final sample comprised 1,989 persons (38.4 ± 12.8 yrs). Prevalence of clinical insomnia was 18.6%. Results from multivariable linear regression showed that insomnia severity was associated with poor sleep hygiene behaviors [β = 0.11, 95% CI (0.07-0.14)]; dysfunctional beliefs about sleep [β = 0.09, 95% CI (0.08-0.11)]; self-reported mental disorder [β = 2.51, 95% CI (1.8-3.1)]; anxiety [β = 0.33, 95% CI (0.25-0.42)]; and depression [β = 0.24, 95% CI (0.16-0.32)] symptoms. Conclusion: An alarming high prevalence of clinical insomnia was observed. Results suggest that clinical attention should be devoted to problems of insomnia in the Italian population with respect to both prevention and treatment.

Sleep quality mediating the association of personality traits and quality of life among underground workers and surface workers of Chinese coal mine: A multi-group SEM with latent response variable mediation analysis

The aim of this study was to examine whether the association between personality traits and quality of life (QOL) was mediated by sleep quality in coal miners and to explore whether the relationship between surface workers and underground workers was different. The cross-sectional study including 3090 coal mine workers aged 20 to 65 years from Shanxi province of China was conducted. Personality traits, QOL and sleep quality were respectively assessed using Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised Short Scale for Chinese, World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF, and sleep status questionnaire. The multi-group SEM with latent response variable method was conducted to evaluate the association between personality traits and QOL mediated by sleep quality. The difference of indirect effects between two subgroups was examined by Wald chi-square test. For surface workers, underground workers and overall sample, passive personality traits had a negative impact on QOL through poor sleep quality, whereas the active personality traits acted the opposite. However, the difference of indirect effect between two subgroups was not statistically significant. These results indicated that sleep quality may act as a partial mediator in the relationship between personality traits and QOL, and the relationship may not be affected by working environment.

Sleep Quality and Emotion Regulation Interact to Predict Anxiety in Veterans with PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating and common consequence of military service. PTSD is associated with increased incidence of mood disturbances (e.g., anxiety). Additionally, veterans with PTSD often have poor-quality sleep and poor emotion regulation ability. We sought to assess whether such sleep and emotion regulation deficits contribute to mood disturbances. In 144 veterans, using a double moderation model, we tested the relationship between PTSD and anxiety and examined whether sleep quality and emotion regulation interact to moderate this relationship. We found that PTSD predicts higher anxiety in veterans with poor and average sleep quality who utilize maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. However, there was no relationship between PTSD and anxiety in individuals with good sleep quality, regardless of emotion regulation. Similarly, there was no relationship between PTSD and anxiety in individuals with better emotion regulation, regardless of sleep quality. Results were unchanged when controlling for history of traumatic brain injury (TBI), despite the fact that those with both PTSD and TBI had the poorest emotion regulation overall. Taken together, these results suggest that good-quality sleep may be protective against poor emotion regulation in veterans with PTSD. Sleep may therefore be a target for therapeutic intervention in veterans with PTSD and heightened anxiety.

The Association among Difficulties in Emotion Regulation, Hostility, and Empathy in a Sample of Young Italian Adults

The aim of the present study was to assess the role of empathy in mediating the association between difficulties in emotion regulation and hostility. Three hundred and sixty young Italian adults (220 women and 140 men) were enrolled in the study. Psychopathological assessments included the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and the Buss–Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI). Perspective taking (PT) and Personal distress (PD) are significantly associated with both DERS total score and BDHI total score. A mediational model analyzing the direct and indirect effects of DERS on BDHI through the mediating role of PT and PD showed that the relation between DERS and BDHI was partially mediated by PT total score (b = 0.16; se = 0.01; p = 0.02). Taken together our findings support the possibility that PT skills could play a crucial role in inhibiting hostility behaviors.