Sleep-Wake Pattern, Sleep Quality and Daytime Status in Fixed Day-Shift Hospital Workers

Objectives: Sleep issues are more prevalent in healthcare workers compared to workers in other industries. This study investigated sleep-wake pattern, sleep quality, and daytime status in hospital workers using a Galaxy Watch3 (GW3), a wrist-worn device that uses an accelerometer and heart rate sensor to distinguish sleep and wakefulness.Methods: Multiple sleep parameters including total sleep time (TST) were obtained using a GW3. The Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), insomnia severity index (ISI), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and bedtime procrastination scale (BPS) were used to assess participants’ status.Results: A total of 70 daytime hospital workers (male, 45.7%; mean age, 35.66±7.79 yr) participated in the monitoring of their sleep-wake patterns for 30 consecutive days. Participants had a mean ESS of 8.14±3.62, ISI of 6.13±3.83, and PSQI of 4.86±2.14. The mean TST was 5.75±0.74 hr (range: 3.42–6.88) during workdays and 5.92±0.92 hr (range: 2.87–8.25) during free days. Chronotype (mid-sleep on freedays corrected for sleep debt accumulated over the work week) was 3.60±1.03 clock hr (range: 1.84–6.69). BPS was negatively correlated with age (rho=-0.27, p=0.022), TST of workdays (rho=-0.53, p<0.001), and TST of free days (rho=-0.43, p<0.001). A higher BPS was associated with larger social jetlag (rho=0.28, p=0.018) and later chronotype (rho=0.41, p<0.001).Conclusions: In this study, 91.5% of daytime hospital workers suffered from chronic sleep insufficiency (<7 hr during both workdays and free days) although their daytime sleepiness or subjective sleep were not poor. Individuals with a later chronotype had poorer sleep quality and worse sleep procrastination behavior.

Bedtime Procrastination as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Active Emotion Regulation Strategies and Insomnia

Objectives: Bedtime procrastination (BP) is defined as the behavior of voluntarily postponing bedtime without having external reasons for doing so. According to previous studies, people with reduced use of active emotion regulation strategies may use BP to cope with negative emotions. However, research about the relationship among active emotional regulation strategies, BP, and insomnia is lacking. This study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of BP between active emotional regulation strategies and insomnia severity.Methods: In total, 597 adults (female, 81.9%; mean age, 23.18±2.80 years) completed the Emotional Regulation Strategies Checklist, Insomnia Severity Index, and Bedtime Procrastination Scale.Results: There was a significant association between active emotional regulation strategies and BP (r=-0.152, p<0.01), between BP and insomnia severity (r=0.259, p<0.01), and between active emotional regulation strategies and insomnia severity (r=-0.128, p<0.01). BP significantly mediated the relationship between active emotional regulation strategies and insomnia severity (B=-0.024; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.04 to -0.01).Conclusions: BP may be considered in the relationship between active emotional regulation strategies and insomnia severity. Understanding the mediating role of BP may help prevent insomnia.

Screen Time Effect on Insomnia, Depression, or Anxiety Symptoms and Physical Activity of School Students During COVID-19 Lockdown in Lebanon: A Cross Sectional Study

Background and Objective Our aim is to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on screen time among Lebanese high school students (grades 9–12).Methods An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed among 510 school students from different governorates in Lebanon; this included questions regarding screen time, food habits, and physical activity. Psychological symptoms were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 items and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items. Effects of screen time on sleep was evaluated using the Insomnia Severity Index and Bedtime Procrastination Scale.Results Female students reported higher depression (p = 0.018) and anxiety (p = 0.023) than male students; however, there was no difference in their sleep. Insomnia, depression, and anxiety were highest among phone users. A screen time of more than 7 hours per day was significantly associated with higher depression (67.9%), anxiety (61.6%), insomnia (82.1%), and bedtime procrastination. It also indicated a shift toward a less healthy diet and light exercise.Conclusions Seven hours of screen was found to develop depression and anxiety, exercising less, eating a less healthy diet, and experiencing disturbed sleep among school adolescents.

Bedtime Procrastination Partially Mediates the Impact of Personality Characteristics on Daytime Fatigue Resulting From Sleep Deficiency

Getting good and sufficiently long sleep at night is important for health, effective functioning, and well-being. However, insufficient or delayed sleep are important and growing social problems that can lead to fatigue, poor performance, deterioration of well-being, circadian rhythm disturbances, and health problems. One of the significant determinants of sleep deprivation is bedtime procrastination, which is understood as the individual tendency to postpone going to bed in the absence of any external circumstances that force one to do so. Nowadays, this phenomenon is widespread in various social groups, especially among students. Despite the high prevalence of bedtime procrastination, its relationship with personality characteristics has not yet been thoroughly studied. The presented research aimed to identify the possible impact of the basic dispositional personality traits and trait-like personality characteristics on bedtime procrastination and daytime fatigue resulting from a deficiency of sleep at night. The responses from 399 university students who voluntarily took part in an internet survey were analyzed. The severity of bedtime procrastination was assessed using the Bedtime Procrastination Scale. Five basic dispositional personality traits (extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness/intellect) and their components (aspects) were measured using the International Personality Item Pool – Big Five Aspects Scale. Self-esteem and general self-efficacy were assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Perceived locus of control was measured using the Delta Questionnaire. The direct and indirect relationships between personality variables and daytime fatigue were investigated using linear regression models with bedtime procrastination as a mediator variable. Industriousness and orderliness, both of which are aspects of conscientiousness, were found to be indirectly associated with daytime fatigue as a consequence of their impact on bedtime procrastination. Volatility and withdrawal, both of which are aspects of neuroticism, were found to be directly related to daytime fatigue without the intermediary impact of bedtime procrastination. Self-esteem was shown to be associated with experiencing daytime fatigue, both directly and indirectly through bedtime procrastination. General self-efficacy and external locus of control were associated with daytime fatigue only directly, without the intermediary role of bedtime procrastination. The results of our research indicate that personality factors may not only play an important role in shaping sleep-related health behaviors, but they also affect well-being during the day.

Longitudinal relationships among problematic mobile phone use, bedtime procrastination, sleep quality and depressive symptoms in Chinese college students: a cross-lagged panel analysis

Background Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have found that problematic mobile phone use, bedtime procrastination, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms are strongly associated. However, studies are inconsistent regarding whether problematic mobile phone use predicts depressive symptoms or vice versa, and sleep factors have been infrequently focused on in this regard. In addition, few studies have examined the longitudinal associations and directions of effects between these factors. Therefore, this study aims to explore the longitudinal relationship among problematic mobile phone use, bedtime procrastination, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms in college students. Methods Overall, 1181 college students completed questionnaires on problematic mobile phone use, bedtime procrastination, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms at two time points 12 months apart. A cross-lagged model was used to examine the longitudinal relationship between these factors. Results Cross-lagged analyses showed significant bidirectional relationships of problematic mobile phone use with bedtime procrastination and depressive symptoms. Additionally, there were also significant bidirectional relationships of sleep quality with bedtime procrastination and depressive symptoms. Problematic mobile phone use predicted subsequent sleep quality one-way, and bedtime procrastination predicted subsequent depressive symptoms one-way. Conclusions This study further expands our understanding of the longitudinal and bidirectional relationships among problematic mobile phone use, bedtime procrastination, sleep quality and depressive symptoms and helps school mental health educators design targeted interventions to reduce problematic mobile phone use, sleep problems, and depressive symptoms among college students.

The Mediator Role of Routines on the Relationship between General Procrastination, Academic Procrastination and Perceived Importance of Sleep and Bedtime Procrastination

Background: Sleep plays a key role in our overall function, and sleep insufficiency has been highlighted as a major health issue. ‘Bedtime procrastination’—i.e., needlessly delaying the time one goes to bed without external reasons—is one reason for sleep insufficiency. The present research aims to explore the interrelationships among Bedtime Procrastination, other domains of Procrastination, and routine-related variables. Methods: The mediating effects of Wake-up Time and Dinner Time on the relationship between Bedtime Procrastination and General Procrastination, Academic Procrastination, and Perceived Importance of Sleep were tested. Self-reported questionnaires were used, and the sample comprised of 446 university students. Results: A partial mediation model was found. General Procrastination, Academic Procrastination, and Perceived Importance of Sleep showed direct effects on Bedtime Procrastination. Moreover, Academic and General Procrastination were positively associated with Bedtime Procrastination, whereas Perceived Importance of Sleep was negatively associated with Bedtime Procrastination. Indirect effects of the Perceived Importance of Sleep and General Procrastination, as mediated by Wake-up Time and Dinner Time, on Bedtime Procrastination were also found. Conclusions: Personal routines (Wake-up Time and Dinner Time) along with individual characteristics (General and Academic Procrastination) and beliefs (perceived importance of sleep) may affect Bedtime Procrastination. Present results highlight the complexity of Bedtime Procrastination.