When Thinking Impairs Sleep: Trait, Daytime and Nighttime Repetitive Thinking in Insomnia

• Published in: Behavioral sleep medicine Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 53 - 69
• Main Authors: Lancee, Jaap, Eisma, Maarten C., van Zanten, Kristopher B., Topper, Maurice
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.01.2017; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety; Anxiety - complications; Anxiety - psychology; Depression - complications; Depression - psychology; Female; Humans; Insomnia; Male; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Rumination; Sleep; Sleep deprivation; Sleep disorders; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - complications; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Thinking; Wakefulness; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1540-2002; 1540-2010
• DOI: 10.1080/15402002.2015.1083022

We performed two studies in individuals with sleep problems to investigate trait, daytime, and nighttime repetitive thinking as risk factors for insomnia. In Study 1, 139 participants completed questionnaires on worry, rumination, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and a sleep diary. Trait rumination and trait worry were not associated with sleep impairment. In Study 2, 64 participants completed similar measures and a daytime and nighttime sleep-related worry diary. Only nighttime sleep-related worry was consistently associated with sleep impairment. Overall, results indicate that nighttime sleep-related worry is important in the maintenance of insomnia, whereas effects of trait and daytime repetitive thinking are more benign. Treatment for insomnia can potentially be improved by focusing more on nighttime sleep-related worry.