Bedtime procrastination positively correlates with anxiety and sleep difficulties: Study

USA: A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology mentioned that higher anxiety is positively correlated to bedtime procrastination and sleeping difficulties without any association with total sleep time and should be effectively considered in the planning treatment strategies for patients with sleep challenges. The study concluded that bedtime procrastination mediates anxiety and sleep problems.

Procrastination means voluntarily delay in the beginning or completion of intended tasks and represents self-regulatory failure. It may be associated with boredom, anxiety, frustration, student academic activities, exams, etc. The effects of procrastination are detrimental to sleep. The exploration of the relationship between procrastination and sleep is minimal. The literature mentions that bedtime procrastination may expand sleep problems, but the findings are limited.

The first study to evaluate the relationship between procrastination and social jetlag was conducted by Li et al. According to this study, procrastination increases the risk of insomnia, and measures should be taken to prevent and manage procrastination in order to improvise sleep health (especially for students). There is a lack of data on its relationship with anxiety.

Against the above background, a study was conducted by Rebecca L Campbell with co-researcher Ana J. Bridges from the Department of Psychological Science at the University of Arkansas to assess whether the association between anxiety and sleep problems is mediated by total sleep time and bedtime procrastination.

The study was questionnaire-based, and participants were asked about psychological health and sleep behaviors.

The key points of study prediction are:

• A total of 308 adult primary care patients were included in the study.

• These adult patients were taking behavioral health services at primary care clinic.

• The participants were predominantly females, with a mean age of 33.30 years.

• There is a negative association between higher anxiety and total sleep time.

• Higher anxiety is positively associated with bedtime procrastination and sleeping problems. The statistical association between anxiety and sleep problems would be mediated by these variables.

The two researchers said, "We found that anxiety and sleep problems are directly related, as higher anxiety leads to greater sleep problems. This is partially mediated by bedtime procrastination but is unrelated to total sleep time."

The authors wrote," We have highlighted the most important and influential treatment target (anxiety and prebedtime behavior) for dealing with individuals with sleep challenges."

References:

• Bedtime procrastination mediates the relation between anxiety and sleep problems. Rebecca L. Campbell, Ana J. Bridges. First published: 28 September 2022. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23440

• Do procrastinators get worse sleep? A cross-sectional study of US adolescents and young adults?