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01-08-2013 | Original Article

Linking Stable and Dynamic Features of Positive Affect to Sleep

Authors: Anthony D. Ong, PhD, Deinera Exner-Cortens, MPH, Catherine Riffin, MA, Andrew Steptoe, DPhil, Alex Zautra, PhD, David M. Almeida, PhD

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 1/2013

Abstract

Background

Poor sleep contributes to adult morbidity and mortality.

Purpose

The study examined the extent to which trait positive affect (PA) and PA reactivity, defined as the magnitude of change in daily PA in response to daily events, were linked to sleep outcomes.

Methods

Analyses are based on data from 100 respondents selected from the National Survey of Midlife in the United States.

Results

Multilevel analyses indicated that higher levels of trait PA were associated with greater morning rest and better overall sleep quality. In contrast, PA reactivity was associated with diminished sleep efficiency. Finally, interactions between PA reactivity and trait PA emerged on all three sleep measures, such that higher event-related change in daily positive affect was associated with impaired sleep, especially among individuals high in trait PA.

Conclusions

Results suggest that high trait PA, when coupled with high PA reactivity, may contribute to poor sleep.

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Random effects for the Level 2 intercept were significant in the full model for sleep efficiency [u ₀ = 65.39, χ ²(74) = 1263.19, p < 0.001], morning rest [u ₀ = 0.26, χ ²(74) = 260.97, p < 0.001], and overall quality [u ₀ = 0.24, χ ²(74) = 231.18, p < 0.001], respectively.

To probe the effect of nonevents, we set the slopes of participants who reported no negative events or positive events over the 8-day study period to zero and re-ran all analyses. The pattern of results remained the same. It is also possible that NA reactivity might be driving our results [13]. To explore this possibility, we re-ran all analyses, controlling for NA reactivity effects. NA reactivity was not predictive of sleep efficiency (γ ₀₂₁ = 0.48, p > 0.10), morning rest (γ ₀₂₁ = 0.31, p = 0.06), or overall sleep (γ ₀₂₁ = 0.14, p > 0.10) and, including NA reactivity did not alter the pattern of trait PA and PA reactivity results. From this, we conclude that the main and interactive effects of trait PA and PA reactivity on sleep are not attributable to NA reactivity.

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Title: Linking Stable and Dynamic Features of Positive Affect to Sleep
Authors: Anthony D. Ong, PhD
Deinera Exner-Cortens, MPH
Catherine Riffin, MA
Andrew Steptoe, DPhil
Alex Zautra, PhD
David M. Almeida, PhD
Publication date: 01-08-2013
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 1/2013
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-013-9484-8

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Linking Stable and Dynamic Features of Positive Affect to Sleep

Abstract

Background

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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Abstract

Background

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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