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Persönlichkeit und Insomnien

Zur Bedeutung von Neurotizismus, Gewissenhaftigkeit und Perfektionismus und zu möglichen Implikationen für die Praxis

Personality and insomnia

On the significance of neuroticism, conscientiousness and perfectionism and possible implications for practice

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Zusammenfassung

Zu der Entwicklung von Insomnien tragen Persönlichkeitseigenschaften als Vulnerabilitätsfaktor bei. In diesem Zusammenhang scheinen insbesondere die Variablen Neurotizismus, geringe Gewissenhaftigkeit und Perfektionismus einen besonderen Stellenwert einzunehmen. Es wird angenommen, dass diese Persönlichkeitseigenschaften über zugrundeliegende Mechanismen und Bewältigungsstrategien das Risiko für Ein- und Durchschlafstörungen erhöhen. Zu diesen Mechanismen zählen Grübeln, Sich-Sorgen und dysfunktionale Überzeugungen zum Schlaf auf kognitiver Ebene sowie Schwierigkeiten in der Emotionsregulation auf emotionaler Ebene. Empirische Befunde deuten darauf hin, dass diese Faktoren Betroffene anfälliger für eine Übererregung vor dem Schlafengehen machen. Jedoch bleibt ungeklärt, inwieweit interindividuelle Unterschiede in der Persönlichkeit einen Einfluss auf die Effektivität der Behandlung mithilfe der kognitiven Verhaltenstherapie für Insomnien (KVT-I) haben. Basierend auf Erkenntnissen in diesem Bereich könnte die KVT‑I zukünftig jedoch stärker individualisiert werden. Bei hohem Neurotizismus könnte der Schwerpunkt auf einer Reduktion von Grübeln und Sich-Sorgen sowie einer Verbesserung der Emotionsregulation liegen. Bei geringer Gewissenhaftigkeit könnte der Schwerpunkt stärker auf Empfehlungen zur Schlafhygiene, wie das Einhalten regelmäßiger Schlafzeiten, liegen. Perfektionistische Patient*innen könnten dazu angeregt werden, einen Leistungsanspruch in Bezug auf das Schlafen zu hinterfragen. Weitere Forschung ist notwendig, um diese Hypothesen empirisch zu validieren.

Abstract

Personality traits act as a predisposing factor in the development of insomnia. In this context, neuroticism, low conscientiousness and perfectionism appear to be of particular interest. Prior research indicates that personality traits contribute to a poorer sleep quality via several underlying mechanisms and coping strategies. On a cognitive level, these mechanisms include rumination, worry and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and on an emotional level, these mechanisms include emotion dysregulation. Empirical findings suggest that such processes may make patients vulnerable to arousal before going to bed. Besides, it remains unclear whether interindividual differences in personality traits impact the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). Based on findings in this area, however, CBT‑I could be more individualized. With high neuroticism, the focus could be on reducing ruminating and worrying as well as improving emotion regulation. If patients are less conscientious, the focus may be more on sleep hygiene rules, such as adhering to regular sleep times. Perfectionist patients could be encouraged to question a possible pressure to achieve concerning their sleep quality. Further research is needed to empirically validate these hypotheses.

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Küskens, A., Pietrowsky, R. & Gieselmann, A. Persönlichkeit und Insomnien. Somnologie 25, 176–185 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11818-021-00315-7

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