0324 RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PERSONALITY DOMAINS, NIGHTMARES, AND SLEEP QUALITY

Abstract

Previous research suggests certain personality traits (e.g., neuroticism) and dysfunctional sleep-related cognitions may perpetuate sleep difficulties, but few studies have examined this relationship. The current study examines personality domains as predictors of sleep quality and nightmare severity, frequency, and intensity in a college sample. Participants were 348 undergraduate students (64% female; M age = 20.17 [SD=2.77]) from a large university in Texas (U.S.) who were administered an online questionnaire battery including the Disturbing Dreams and Nightmare Severity Index (DDNSI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PQSI), and Big Five Inventory (BFI) of personality traits. Two multiple regressions were conducted in order to determine if personality traits predicted nightmare symptoms and overall sleep quality/insomnia. The omnibus regression for personality factors predicting DDSNI was significant, F(5, 342) = 12.75, p < .001, R2 = .16. Higher levels of Neuroticism (β = 0.35, p < .001) and Openness (β = 0.21, p < .001) significantly predicted greater nightmare symptoms. The omnibus regression for personality factors predicting PSQI was significant, F(5, 342) = 13.66, p < .001, R2 = .15. Higher levels of Neuroticism (β = 0.27, p < .001) significantly predicted worse sleep quality/insomnia symptoms. The study indicates that the personality factor of neuroticism is related to several dimensions of disturbed sleep including nightmare symptoms and sleep quality/insomnia. Hyperarousal may moderate this relationship, but more research is needed. Additionally, greater openness was related to greater nightmare symptoms, which may reflect propensity of more impressible and imaginative individuals to have and/or report unusual experiences like frequent nightmares. More research is needed to understand the relationship between personality factors and sleep disturbances like nightmares and insomnia. None.