Sleep Hygiene Mediates, but Does Not Moderate, Associations Between Temperament and Sleep Quality in University Students

Abstract

Although there are theoretical reasons to expect associations among temperament, sleep hygiene behaviors (SHB), and global sleep quality (GSQ), these relations have not yet been examined despite their potential impact on undergraduate student well-being. The present study was conducted to (1) examine relations between temperament and GSQ in university students broadly recruited, (2) document associations between SHB and temperament in this sample, and (3) to determine whether associations among temperament, SHB, and GSQ were best explained by mediation or moderation models. One hundred fifty-two university students completed questionnaires that inquired about temperament, SHB, and GSQ. Correlations revealed that poorer SHB and GSQ were associated reduced effortful control; poorer SHB was also associated with increased negative affect (SHB and GSQ were unrelated to extraversion and orienting sensitivity). Mediation models assessing relations amongst temperament, SHB, and GSQ indicated that negative affect and effortful control may predispose university students to engage in fewer SHB, negatively impacting GSQ; variability in SHB did not moderate the impact of temperament on GSQ. Additional research is needed to confirm and extend these findings, with the ultimate goal of improving undergraduate GSQ (a) by reducing negative affect and increasing effortful control or (b) by improving SHB that are uniquely associated with these temperament profiles.

Keywords:

• sleep quality
• sleep hygiene
• temperament
• university students

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the students who participated in this research as well as to the members of the UCI Memory and Development Lab who assisted with questionnaire scoring and data reduction.