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Adolescents' self-reported sleep quantity and sleep-related personality traits—A pilot study

Selbsteinschätzung der Schlafquantität und der schlafbezogenen Persönlichkeitsmerkmale von Adoleszenten—Eine Pilotstudie

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Summary

Question of the study

The aim of this pilot study was to assess adolescents' self-reported sleep quantity and personality traits in order to describe typical personality patterns related to sleep and characteristics that distinguish between good and poor sleepers.

Participants and methods

A total of 134 adolescents (mean age: 18.60; 74 females and 60 males) completed a single sleep-related personality traits questionnaire (FEPS-I) and daily sleep logs for seven consecutive days. The daily logs data were used to cluster participants in three subgroups of poor, normal, and good sleep quality.

Results

Up to 25 % of the adolescents could be considered ‘poor’ sleepers and displayed personality traits such as decreased self-confidence, increased mental arousal, and self-perception of body sensations. Female adolescents were at high risk of being ‘poor’ sleepers, yet up to 20 % of the adolescents could be described as ‘good’ sleepers. Fifty-five per cent of the adolescents could be considered ‘normal’ sleepers without appropriate sleep-related personality traits or sleeping habits.

Conclusions

The pilot project, using exclusively self-reported sleep data, showed that about a quarter of adolescents were considered ‘poor’ sleepers with specific sleep-related personality traits. Further investigations are needed to support these results and to allow possible preventive interventions.

Zusammenfassung

Fragestellung

Diese Pilotstudie hatte zum Ziel, die Schlafquantität sowie schlafbezogene Persönlichkeitsmerkmale von Adoleszenten mittels Selbsteinschätzung zu erfassen, um spezifische Persönlichkeitsmuster zu beschreiben und gute von schlechten Schläfern zu unterscheiden.

Teilnehmer und Methodik

134 Adoleszente (Alter: 18,60; 74 weibliche und 60 männliche Teilnehmer) füllten einen Fragebogen zu schlafbezogenen Persönlichkeitsmerkmalen, sowie eine Woche lang ein Schlafprotokoll aus. Aus den Daten des Protokolls wurden mittels Clusteranalyse drei Untergruppen mit guter, normaler und schlechter Schlafqualität definiert.

Ergebnisse

Rund 25 % der Adoleszenten konnten als schlechte Schläfer bezeichnet werden, welche ein verringertes Selbstvertrauen, sowie erhöhte psychische Erregung und Körperbeachtung aufwiesen. Das Risiko, zur Gruppe der ‘schlechten’ Schläfer zu gehören, war für weibliche Adoleszente erhöht. Rund 20 % der Adoleszenten waren ‘gute’ Schläfer. 55% der Adoleszenten waren ‘normale’ Schläfer mit entsprechenden Persönlichkeitsmerkmalen und Schlafgewohnheiten.

Schlussfolgerungen

Das ausschließlich auf Selbsteinschätzungen basierende Pilotprojekt zeigte, dass rund 25 % der Adoleszenten ‘schlechte’ Schläfer waren und spezifische Persönlichkeitsmerkmale aufwiesen. Breiter angelegte Untersuchungen sind notwendig, um die gefundenen Resultate zu erhärten und um präventive Maßnahmen zu formulieren.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatric University Clinics Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Str. 27, 4025, Basel, Switzerland

    Serge Brand, Noel Frei, Martin Hatzinger & Edith Holsboer-Trachsler

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  1. Serge Brand
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  2. Noel Frei
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  3. Martin Hatzinger
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  4. Edith Holsboer-Trachsler
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Correspondence to Serge Brand.

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Brand, S., Frei, N., Hatzinger, M. et al. Adolescents' self-reported sleep quantity and sleep-related personality traits—A pilot study. Somnologie 9, 166–171 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-054X.2005.00055.x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-054X.2005.00055.x

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