SHORT-TERM PARTIAL SLEEP DEPRIVATION: EFFECTS ON EMOTION REGULATION OF HEALTHY ADULTS

Abstract

Introduction and Objectives: Previous research has shown that sleep deprivation has negative effects on memory, cognitive, and physiological function. Sleep-deprived people also often show signs of emotionality. This study investigated risk posed by short-term partial sleep deprivation on the emotional regulation of healthy adults. Materials and Methods: We randomized 80 adults, ages 18-68, into sleep deprivation (3-nights with 5-hours in bed) and a control group. We used experimental emotion elicitation to examine group differences dependent on sleep conditions. We elicited negative emotions with music (MCI), visualization, and pictures (IAPS). We measured emotion regulation by levels of positive and negative emotion and affect; scores on discrete emotions (PANAS-X); levels of arousal, pleasure, emotion dominance (SAM, Affect Grid). We assessed within and between group differences with MANOVA, and group differences on discrete emotions with t-tests. Results: Following sleep-deprivation, people scored significantly lower on arousal, positive emotionality and affect compared to controls. In addition, they exhibited a negativity bias on discrete emotions, scoring positive (e.g., delighted, joyful) and neutral items (e.g., concentrating, attentive) lower and negative items (e.g., irritable, hostile) higher than controls. After emotion elicitation, both groups significantly reported increased negative emotion, arousal, displeasure, emotion dominance, and reduced positive emotion. The only significant differences between groups were on discrete emotions. The sleep-deprived group reported feeling significantly less fearless, more sluggish, tired, sleepy, and drowsy. Conclusion: Sleep-deprivation appears to pose risk to emotion regulation through reductions in positive emotionality and affect. This study supports prior research showing a negativity bias following sleep deprivation with participants scoring lower on positive and neutral items and higher on negative items. The results of this study provide an analog for how people with long-term sleep problems may be at increased risk for mood related disorders. Acknowledgements: Funding provided in part by Lars Hiertas Memorial Fund.