Madeleine Salvatore

Adam Padgett
ENGL 102
11/22/2016
A Look at the Reasons Behind Insomniac Behavior
When faced with the task of having to write a research paper, I wanted to make
sure I was investigating something that interested me. A few weeks ago I tweeted: I
have taken naps longer than the amount of sleep I got last night. I received a whole 14
favorites and that is when it hit me. I was going to use my Twitter fame as inspiration for
my research topic. Why is it that I can sleep for so long during the day, but am
physically unable to sleep well at night? How is my body suffering as a result of this?
Through extensive research, it has been proven that sleep plays a direct and vital role in a
persons physical and mental well-being. There are multiple factors that relate to the
inability to sleep at night. Among these reasons are anxieties, stress, and daytime naps.
Due to the fact that sleep is extremely important in order to conduct a productive day and
lifestyle, my question is: What happens as a result of the inability to sleep at night? It is
quite obvious that sleep is important, but how much sleep is enough?
In a study by Michelle Clementi, the relationship between sleep and anxiety was
measured. The study assessed the sleeping patterns of 88 children, ages 7-17. Sleep
duration and night waking were among the data measured. An intervention was staged as
a method of analyzing and possibly aiding in ability to sleep at night. The ADIS-C/P
(Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule- Child and Parent Versions) is a reliable semistructured interview for youth ages 7-17. The ADIS-C/P screens for additional disorders,

including developmental, psychotic and mood disorders (3272). It was found that if one
category is struggling, the other would suffer as well. There is a direct correlation
between sleep and well-being. Clementi also noted the importance in the type of day a
person has had on the ability to sleep at night, meaning a good or bad day. The type of
day reflects the amount of time spent awake at night, and less time spent sleeping
predicted less positive affect the following day. A bad day will most likely lead to
poorer quality of sleep due to thoughts consuming the mind, which are more than likely
tied to anxieties and stresses.
Peterman, Carper, and Kendall studied sleep related problems (SRPs). SRPs are
a heterogeneous group of difficulties that interfere with sleep continuity and quality
(377). The study noted the importance of sleep in the developmental stages on youth.
Insufficient sleep is considered less than 8 hours of sleep at night, and 45% of youth
studied suffer from this. The contributing authors then went on to describe the
developmental changes in sleep, referencing ages from birth until 2, age 4 to 7, and the
high school ages. When a child is born to the time they are 2, they spend more time
asleep than they do awake. Between the ages of 5 and 22, the balance between sleep and
time awake becomes more similar. Recent research has emphasized the connection
between sleep problems and elevated anxiety in school-aged youth (grades 1-12) (276).
Peterman, Carper, and Kendall found that about 25% of healthy children, who are still in
school, have difficulty falling asleep at night. A relationship between anxiety/related
disorders and the inability to sleep at night was also found. The authors noted that 8090% of anxious youth suffer from at least one sleep related problem. One study
referenced by Peterman, Carper, and Kendall found that anxious children reported taking

over 30 minutes to fall asleep because of the inability to calm their mind. This
information can all be pieced together to explain the correlation between sleep and
anxiety.
In a study conducted by Rebecca C. Cox and Bunmi O. Olatunji, sleep was
assessed and then grouped into categories of objective and subjective sleep. Objective
sleep is defined as an unbiased measure of sleep parameters and increased precision
(105). Subjective sleep is linked to dsyregulated emotional processes and are necessary
for diagnosing insomnia (105). The parameters surrounding the study included the total
sleep time, how long it takes a person to fall asleep, and the amount of time a person is
asleep and awake while in bed. Sleep disturbance behavior was found in people who
suffer from anxiety or other related conditions (OCD, phobias, PTSD, and Social Anxiety
Disorder). A correlation between anxiety and other related disorders in sleep disturbance
has also been found and indicate a strong role of sleep disturbance in anxiety and related
disorders (123). All of this means that sleep disturbance can be tied to anxiety, stress
and other disorders. This is another example of the effect the inability to calm your mind
can have on sleeping patterns.
A study conducted by Lichuan Ye examined the relationship between collegestudents napping habits and nighttime sleep. The survey asked 440 undergraduate
students how often, how long, and what time they had napped during the past month.
The frequent nappers, those who napped more than three times per week for longer than
two hours, ended up having the poorest quality of sleep. Students who napped between
6 and 9pm had shorter sleep on school nights (88). Frequent napping was found to pose
as an issue in regards to sleep quality at night, as well as the time of day napping

occurred. Of the students surveyed, those who napped for longer than two hours on a
given day considered themselves to be night owls (90), meaning they spent more time
awake at night than they did asleep. The majority of students reported napping in the
afternoon, with 23% between 12 and 3 PM and 67% between 3 and 6 PM. Students who
napped between 6 and 9 PM reported fewer hours of sleep on school nights compared
with students who napped at other times (90). An evening nap can alter ones circadian
rhythms, leading to disrupted sleep and less nocturnal sleep (Ye 95). This information
ties in with the reason behind the napping frequency and length of college students. Ye
mentioned the reason why the majority of college students nap during the day. The study
noted that they choose to nap for a variety of reasons: replacement naps in response to
perceived sleepiness; appetitive naps with regard to insufficient sleep but for enjoyment;
and prophylactic naps in advance of sustained wakefulness or in preparation for sleep
loss (94). Yes study emphasized a prominent issue in the behavior of college students.
Students are napping during the day in order to compensate for sleep lost at night. As a
result, however, the pattern of inability to receive high sleep quality at night perpetuates.
The homeostasis theory was noted in research conducted by Melissa K.
Weinberg, Jacqueline M. Noble, and Thomas G. Hammond. According to Weinberg,
Noble, and Hammond, the primary function of the homeostatic system is to regulate
affect in response to stress, and it draws on various available resources to achieve that
aim and maintain SWB [subjective well-being]) (92). High quality of sleep at night was
found to have a direct result on what was studied as subjective well-being. According
to Weinberg, Noble, and Hammond, getting a good nights sleep is important to ensure
we function most effectively in our waking lives (91). This theory is in reference to a

relationship between sleep quality, dreaming, and stress. Bad dreams often lead to more
stress, which in turn may cause poor quality of nighttime rest. The participants in the
contributing authors study were asked whether they had experienced a bad dream in the
past week, and whether or not their sleep was interrupted as a result of the bad dream.
The participants were then grouped into three categories: those who reported having no
bad dreams or nightmares in the past week, those who reported having solely bad dreams,
and those who reported experiencing night terrors. The participants were then tested to
determine their subjective well-being and it was found that SWB had a significant
moderate negative correlation with stress (93). The study concluded that dreams did
have some effect on subjective well-being, but it was not as significant as predicted. That
has led me to believe that the primary reasons behind the inability to sleep at night is a
combination of anxieties and stress and frequent, long naps.
So what does this all mean? As I sifted through what seemed to be endless pages
of scientific journals, I was looking for two things: Why are some people more incapable
of attaining high sleep quality than others? And, how does the inability to sleep at night
effect ones everyday life? It has been concluded that especially in ones older youth,
sleep is vital, as deprivation can interfere with the higher cognitive functioning
necessary for academic performance, including impulse control/behavioral inhibition,
memory, and mood regulation (Peterman 378). The loss of nighttime sleep can lead to a
plethora of issues in everyday life. As a result of insomniac behavior, Peterman noted
that daytime sleepiness is frequently reported by youth, particularly adolescents, and
teachers commonly report on the epidemic of students falling asleep in class (377).
The Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report also noted a similar claim. Persons who

reported sleeping <7 hours on average during a 24-hour period were more likely to report
unintentionally falling asleep during the day (236). I notice daytime sleepiness regularly
during my college classes. Students spend countless hours in the library cramming for
the massive exam they have the next day, but still have to wake up for their 8:30 in the
morning, even though that most likely means receiving less sleep than the nap they took
that afternoon. Peterman noted the recommendation that children and adolescents should
receive 9-11 hours of sleep per night, yet the average school-aged child spends 8.5 hours
asleep, and the average adolescent receives 7.5 hours of nightly sleep (377). This is
what was penned as insufficient sleep. And unfortunately, a great number of children,
especially college students, suffer from this.
According to Peterman, when taking a look at the effect insufficient sleep has on
people, the problem tends to interfere with the higher cognitive functioning necessary
for academic performance, including impulse control/behavioral inhibition, memory, and
mood regulation (378). It is also noted that sleep problems are also related to physical
health outcomes, including risk of physical injury, obesity, and compromised immune
system functioning (379). Peterman constantly stresses the importance of sleep on both
physical and mental health.
Cox also acknowledged the negative effects of insufficient nighttime sleep.
Sleep loss is linked to a diverse range of adverse effects, including deficits in cognitive
function (105). This is yet another example of how insufficient sleep negatively affects
everyday life. The behavior of the brain is linked to the amount of sleep one receives, as
well as the quality. Likewise, sleep disturbance is highly prevalent in psychopathology,
and sleep impairments are found in almost every major psychiatric disorder (105). As

you can see, disruption to sleeping patterns can lead to problems more severe than just
basic functions of the brain.
When it comes to mood and energy level, the amount of sleep one acquires at
night is of great importance. Ye found that self-rated general mood and energy level
significantly differed among the 5 nap-length groups, with those who reported napping
longer having a lower mood and energy lever (94). Longer naps have been determined
to be more problematic than those of shorter length. Ye suggests taking shorter naps in
order to improve quality of nighttime sleep because:
Long naps have been shown to be less efficient than short naps in improving
cognitive performance and subjective alertness. Sleep inertia is more likely to
follow longer naps, which consist of more slow wave sleep. Sleep inertia is the
experience of impaired performance and/or dis- orientation immediately after
awaking from sleep. The effect of sleep inertia can last up to 4 hours after
awakening and may influence nocturnal sleep quality particularly for those late
nappers who take long naps. In addition, taking long naps can be a sign of
depression, which may directly impair sleep quality. This is supported by our
observation that students who reported napping longer reported a lower mood and
energy level (95).
Napping has been seen to change the sleep-wake cycle, which has been seen to
negatively affect ones health.
The problem with inability to sleep at night lies with stress and anxiety, as well as
long, frequent naps. What happens as a result of either disruption or inability to sleep at
night is an obvious negative effect on well-being. The brain does not function properly

with insufficient sleep, mood disorders may occur, or more serious health problems may
develop. The bottom line is, sufficient amounts of sleep are vital and ones well-being
will suffer if this need for nighttime rest is not met.

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Gong, Hong, et al. "Mindfulness Meditation For Insomnia: A Meta-Analysis Of
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