Associations of Self-Consciousness with Insomnia Symptoms

Abstract

Objective Insomnia is a very common health problem that are getting more attention. Self-consciousness is one of the factors related to anxiety or rumination that affect insomnia symptoms. However, the number of studies regarding self-consciousness and insomnia is scarce. The objective of study is to evaluate effects of self-consciousness on insomnia symptoms. Methods A total of 90 healthy adults (mean age 28 years, 58% female) were enrolled to the study. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were used to define poor sleepers (PSQI score 8 or higher, or ISI score 8 or higher). Objective sleep parameters were obtained through actigraphy device, and subjective sleep parameters were obtained through sleep diaries concordantly. Self-consciousness scale was used to evaluate three domains of self-consciousness including public self-consciousness, private self-consciousness, and social anxiety. Binary regression analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were conducted to find correlation between self-consciousness and insomnia symptoms. Results Among three self-consciousness domains, only social anxiety showed significant correlation to poor sleepers [odds ratio (OR)=1.091, p=0.046]. Social anxiety was also significantly correlated with both PSQI score 8 or higher (B=0.091, p=0.002) and ISI score 8 or higher (B=0.087, p=0.047). Private self-consciousness was negatively associated with ISI score 8 or higher (B=-0.202, p=0.043). Conclusion High social anxiety had a significant correlation to poor sleep. The result of this study implies high self-consciousness with emotional distress could affect insomnia symptoms.