Bidirectional Associations Between Sleep and Anxiety Symptoms in Emerging Adults in a Residential College Setting. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peltz, Jack S.; Rogge, Ronald D.; Pugach, Cameron P.; Strang, Kathryn
• Is Part Of: Emerging adulthood. Volume 5:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 204
• Page End: 215
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: emerging adulthood -- college -- sleep -- anxiety; Young adults -- Periodicals; Adolescence -- Periodicals; Teenagers -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; 305
• DOI: 10.1177/2167696816674551
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2167-6968

Abstract

Daily covariation of three sleep indicators (quantity, quality, postsleep restedness), anxiety symptoms, and caffeine and alcohol consumption was observed in 283 emerging adults ( M age = 19.9). Participants completed web-based sleep diary surveys every morning and evening for 7 consecutive days. Cross-lagged models suggested that sleep quality and restedness (reported each morning) predicted students' anxiety levels (reported each evening) and that anxiety levels predicted all three sleep indicators. Furthermore, pre-bedtime caffeine consumption predicted worse sleep that night. Controlling for the effects of weekdays versus weekends produced virtually identical effects to the 7-day models, although weekend alcohol consumption emerged as a predictor of postsleep restedness. These data support bidirectionality between sleep and anxiety symptoms in emerging adults attending college/university and highlight potential avenues for intervention.