The relationship between Type D personality and insomnia.

TLDR: The outcomes support prior research evidencing that whilst Type D personality is related to poor sleep in adolescents, NA appears to be the main contributor.

About: This article is published in Sleep Health.The article was published on 2018-08-01 and is currently open access. It has received 23 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Type D personality & Negative affectivity.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. What are the contributions in "The relationship between type d personality and insomnia" ?

This study examined the relationship between Type D personality and insomnia symptoms amongst a sample of the general-population. Results: Individuals with the Type D personality trait reported significantly greater symptoms of insomnia relative to NonType Ds. Moreover, insomnia-symptoms were independently related to negative affectivity ( NA ) and social inhibition ( SI ) and the Type D interaction ( i. e. synergistic product of SI and NA ). Therefore, in line with previous studies ( e. g. 13 ) Type D will be considered as both a categorical and a continuous variable within the current study. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between Type D personality and insomnia symptoms amongst a sample of the general population. Specifically, the authors aimed to determine whether: i ) individuals categorised as Type D report increased insomnia symptoms relative to their non-Type D counterparts ; ii ) dimensions of NA and SI are independently related to insomnia symptoms ; and iii ) the dimensional Type D construct may have a greater predictive value for insomnia symptoms, over and above that of NA and SI in isolation. Additionally, the authors aimed to explore regression analyses utilising the dimensional ( NA x SI ) interaction to determine the influence of Type D and its components on insomnia symptoms. Method Sample and Procedure A cross-sectional online questionnaire based study was implemented comprising of questions designed to assess the relationship between Type D personality and insomnia symptoms. The study was approved by the Sheffield Hallam University Research Ethics Committee, and all participants provided informed consent. 459 participants began the survey, and 430 respondents provided complete data. Those who indicated that they conducted shift work, suffered from a disorder of the central nervous system, were currently using medication which effects sleep, or had a prior head injury or reported symptoms of a sleep disorder other than insomnia were excluded from analysis ( n=38 ). An Independent samples t-test was used to determine any significant difference in the severity of insomnia symptoms between Type D and Non-Type Ds. Moreover, Pearson ’ s bivariate correlational analyses examined the influence of NA, SI and the dimensional Type D interaction ( NAxSI ) on insomnia symptomology. Results Mean scores for the final sample were as follows: ISI, 8. 97±5. The results from this demonstrated that individuals categorised as Type D reported a significantly higher ISI score ( 10. 51±5. 35 ) relative to Non-Type Ds ( 7. 24±5. 15: t ( 390 ) =-6. 15, p=. 001 ). An individual ’ s personality may act as a predisposing, and potentially perpetuating, factor of the disorder. Further, associations between Type D personality and sleep problems have also recently been demonstrated in cardiac patients ( 17,18 ). 

Q2. What are the future works mentioned in the paper "The relationship between type d personality and insomnia" ?

This further exemplifies the merit of the categorical approach as a predictor for negative outcomes, supporting recent research in the area ( 22 ). It is therefore suggested that future studies should employ a larger heterogeneous sample. Considering this personality-type may act as a predisposition for future illness ( 9 ) ( e. g. insomnia ), research may wish to address targeted sleep interventions for those who indicate the distressed personality type. The mean age of the sample was also relatively low, suggesting the outcomes may also not generalize to the older population. 

Q3. What is the significance of the linear regression analysis?

linear regression analysis determined that negative affectivity but not social inhibition significantly predicted insomnia symptoms (step2: 18% total variance explained after controlling for age and sex (step1: 0.05%variance). 

Q4. What are the effects of Type D personality?

Type D personality has been associated with a range of negative health outcomes and increased psychological distress (e.g. 10-13). 

Q5. How many items were used to assess insomnia?

Insomnia symptoms were assessed using The Insomnia Severity Index (20) The ISI consists of 7 items examining the severity of insomnia symptoms over the past two weeks including difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, and awakening too early. 

Q6. What is the main predictor of insomnia symptoms?

negative affectivity appeared to be the only predictor of insomnia symptoms when NA, SI, and Type D were entered into the regression model, similarly to a recent dimensional analysis of the relationship between Type D and physical symptoms (13). 

Q7. What is the role of Type D personality in insomnia?

Whilst Type D personality may act as a marker for disturbed sleep amongst adolescents(8), cardiac patients (17,18), police officers and nurses (16), it has yet to be determined whether this extends to members of the general population presenting symptoms of insomnia. 

Q8. What is the definition of Type D personality?

Type D personality was traditionally conceptualised as a categorical variable with individuals scoring above a threshold on both SI and NA are classified as Type D (9), however recent recommendations propose that it is alternatively represented as a dimensional construct (13,19). 

Q9. What has been shown to be associated with insomnia in cardiac patients?

associations between Type D personality and sleep problems have also recently been demonstrated in cardiac patients (17,18). 

Q10. What is the relationship between Type D personality and insomnia?

considering the nature of Type D personality, and the relationships between personality traits associated with poor-sleep and insomnia (i.e. neuroticism, anxious concerns) (14-15), Type-D personality may theoretically also be related to insomnia. 

Q11. What was the significance of the independent samples t-test?

An Independent samples t-test was used to determine any significant difference in the severity of insomnia symptoms between Type D and Non-Type Ds. Moreover, Pearson’s bivariate correlationalanalyses examined the influence of NA, SI and the dimensional Type D interaction (NAxSI) on insomnia symptomology.