107 Sleep Quality and Duration Are Associated with Greater Trait Emotional Intelligence

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Lack of sleep has been associated with altered connectivity between the emotion-regulating regions of the medial prefrontal cortex and the emotionally reactive structure of the amygdala. This altered brain function following insufficient sleep is believed to impair a range of emotional perception and regulation capacities. Our prior research has also shown that two nights of total sleep deprivation led to significant declines in Trait Emotional Intelligence (TEI) and other aspects of emotional processing and perception. Nonetheless, the extent to which general sleep quality and acute sleep duration may contribute to everyday TEI outside of laboratory conditions remains unknown. We hypothesized that poorer sleep quality and the amount of sleep obtained the night before assessment would both predict TEI scores. Methods 447 adults (18–40 yrs; 72% female) completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a question about the number of hours of sleep obtained the night before the assessment (SLEEP), as well as the Petrides Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue). Sleep metrics were used to predict Total TEI, and the four TEIQue factors (Wellbeing, Self-Control, Emotionality, and Sociability) using multiple linear regression. Results Both PSQI (β=-.275, p<.00001) and SLEEP (β=.130, p<.00001) each contributed uniquely to prediction of Total TEI (R2=.11, p<.00001). Wellbeing was also predicted by a combination of PSQI (β=-.272, p<.00001) and SLEEP (β=.129, p=.006). In contrast, for Self-Control, only PSQI was significantly related (β=-.296, p<.00001). Both PSQI (β=-.131, p<.007) and SLEEP (β=.103, p<.034) each contributed to Emotionality. Finally, both PSQI (β=-.126, p<.010) and SLEEP (β=.107, p<.028) each contributed to Sociability. Conclusion Greater total TEI was uniquely predicted by a linear combination of 1) better general sleep quality over the past month and 2) greater quantity of sleep the night before the assessment session. The same pattern held for all scale factors, except Self-Control, which was only related to sleep quality over the past month. Although limited by the cross-sectional nature of the data, these findings support prior work suggesting that lack of sleep alters normal emotional processing and further suggests that both long-term sleep quality and acute restriction of sleep can affect trait-like emotional domains. Support (if any):