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The Effects of Poor Sleep on Cognitive, Affective, and Physiological Responses to a Laboratory Stressor

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

Recent research suggests that poor sleep may be associated with altered stress regulation.

Purpose

This study aims to examine the associations between prior-night and prior-month sleep measures and affective, cognitive, and physiological responses to a laboratory stressor.

Methods

Ninety-eight (50 % female) young adults completed measures of sleep quality in the context of a laboratory stress study. Measures included positive (PA) and negative affects (NA) and blood pressure (BP) reactivity, as well as change in pre-sleep arousal.

Results

Prior-month poor sleep quality and sleep disturbances predicted dampened BP reactivity. Both prior-night and prior-month sleep quality predicted greater decrease in PA. Sleep-associated monitoring predicted NA reactivity and prolonged cognitive and affective activation. Prior-month sleep continuity predicted greater cognitive pre-sleep arousal change, and prior-month sleep quality, daytime dysfunction, and disturbances predicted prolonged cognitive and affective activation.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that inadequate sleep confers vulnerability to poor cognitive, affective, and physiological responses to stress.

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Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Paula G. Williams Ph.D, Matthew R. Cribbet M.S., Holly K. Rau M.S. & Heather E. Gunn Ph.D

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA

    Laura A. Czajkowski Ph.D

Authors
  1. Paula G. Williams Ph.D
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  2. Matthew R. Cribbet M.S.
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  4. Heather E. Gunn Ph.D
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Correspondence to Paula G. Williams Ph.D.

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Williams, P.G., Cribbet, M.R., Rau, H.K. et al. The Effects of Poor Sleep on Cognitive, Affective, and Physiological Responses to a Laboratory Stressor. ann. behav. med. 46, 40–51 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-013-9482-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-013-9482-x

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