Sleepless Nights as Indicator of Your Character Traits
Study Reveals Link Between Bedtime Procrastination and Negative Personality Traits
A new study conducted by the Department of Psychology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City has found a connection between bedtime procrastination and negative personality traits such as neuroticism and low self-control.
Steven Carlson, the lead author of the study and a doctoral student at the university, shared these findings in an interview with science magazine "EurekAlert".
The study, which involved 390 young adults with an average age of around 24 years, had participants keep a sleep diary for 14 days, evaluating their own procrastination behavior regarding bedtime. They also filled out a standardized questionnaire as part of the study.
The participants were divided into two groups: "night owls" and "morning larks" based on their preferred sleep schedule. The study found that night owls tend to exhibit certain negative personality traits, although it did not specify the exact traits exhibited by this group.
According to the study, neuroticism—which typically involves emotional instability, anxiety, and moodiness—is a key negative personality trait associated with bedtime procrastination. Low self-control, which reflects difficulty managing impulses and regulating behavior, is another trait linked to delayed sleep.
The study did not investigate the reasons why night owls exhibit negative personality traits, but it did find a link between their bedtime procrastination and some of these tendencies. For instance, night owls who regularly delay their bedtime report seeking out exciting, thrilling, or entertaining activities less often.
Difficulties in coping with fears and worries can also be a cause of bedtime procrastination, according to the study. However, the study did not involve participants older than young adults or those without a preferred sleep schedule.
The findings of this study suggest that addressing negative personality traits such as neuroticism and low self-control could help individuals overcome bedtime procrastination and improve their sleep quality. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore potential interventions for improving sleep habits.
In the study conducted by the Department of Psychology at the University of Utah, it was found that night owls, who tend to delay their bedtime, are more likely to exhibit negative personality traits such as neuroticism, which includes emotional instability, anxiety, and moodiness, and low self-control, which reflects difficulty managing impulses and regulating behavior. This research also indicates that addressing these negative personality traits could potentially help individuals conquer bedtime procrastination, leading to improvements in their sleep quality and overall health-and-wellness, including mental health.
