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Abstract
Abstract
Insomnia is associated with externalizing and internalizing behaviors in adolescents. Whereas the existence of mental health challenges could contribute to the onset of insomnia, poor sleep hygiene has been shown to contribute to perpetuating it. However, it is not clear what specific sleep hygiene behaviors are common in adolescents with externalizing and internalizing symptoms. The objective of this study was to identify behaviors at bedtime that are associated with internalizing and externalizing symptoms and that could contribute to the perpetuation of insomnia in adolescents.
90 adolescents ages 13-17 (M=15.06, SD=1.5) participated in the study. They completed the Youth Self Report (YSR) to assess behavioral and emotional problems and the Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Scale (ASHS) to assess sleep hygiene behaviors.
Indicators of mental illness (internalizing and externalizing symptoms) were significantly correlated with higher cognitive/emotional arousal at bedtime (i.e., mental stimulation, strong emotional reflection, and rumination). No association was found between adolescents' daytime symptoms and behavioral arousal at bedtime (i.e., the presence of behaviors keeping one aroused at bedtime, such as use of electronics in bed or exercising before bedtime).
Adolescents who report higher than average symptoms of either internalizing or externalizing problems also report more cognitive/emotional sleep hygiene behaviors that promote arousal. Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine the causality and direction of this association.
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