Sleep-related Cognitions Mediate the Impact of Neuroticism on Insomnia

Objectives: Our study aimed to explore how neuroticism and neuroticism-related traits as well as sleep-related cognitions (dysfunctional beliefs and subjective quality of sleep) influence the emergence of insomnia using a mediational model. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 159 insomniac patients paired with 159 normal sleepers in sex and age (N = 318) completed an online questionnaire. Results: At the global level, dysfunctional beliefs and poor subjective quality of sleep mediated the neuroticism-insomnia path; at the trait-specific level, these variables mediated the anxiety-insomnia path and partially mediated the effects of vulnerability and self-consciousness on insomnia; some other relations were essentially indirect effects (between depression and insomnia). Conclusions: These findings extend our understanding of how neuroticism is a predisposing factor of insomnia. This knowledge could be helpful to shape prevention and intervention programs to treat insomnia.