A longitudinal investigation of the bidirectional relationship of sleep quality with emotional stability and social cynicism in a large community sample.

OBJECTIVE

Dispositional characteristics like emotional stability and social cynicism have been consistently associated with negative affect, which is a known predictor and outcome of poor sleep quality. This study hypothesized a bidirectional relationship of sleep quality with emotional stability and social cynicism over a five-year period.

METHODS

Participants were 7,181 Chinese people, who completed two waves of online surveys from a larger panel study. Questionnaires on Big Five personality traits, social cynicism, and sleep quality were administered twice at a five-year interval.

RESULTS

Cross-lagged analysis revealed a significant bidirectional relationship between emotional stability and sleep quality over five years as hypothesized. However, there was no association between sleep quality and social cynicism in either direction.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides consistent evidence of a bidirectional relationship between sleep quality and emotional stability in a five-year time-frame among a younger population (mean age = 24.86). Given the critical role of emotional stability in various areas of functioning, the findings highlight the importance of sleep health education in young adults, who are going through a critical period of personality development.