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Measuring individual vulnerability to sleep loss--the CHICa scale
Halszka Oginska1, Justyna Mojsa-Kaja, Magdalena Fafrowicz
1Department of Neuroergonomics, Institute of Applied Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
Journal of Sleep Research
|December 7, 2013
Summary
Researchers developed the CHICa scale to measure subjective sleep deprivation effects. This scale identifies cognitive, affective, appetite, and thermoregulation issues, aiding in understanding sleep loss consequences.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sleep Science
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Sleep deprivation negatively impacts mood, cognition, and overall well-being.
- Existing scales may not fully capture the multifaceted subjective experiences of sleep loss.
- Understanding these subjective reactions is crucial for research and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct and validate a psychometrically sound scale for assessing subjective reactions to sleep deprivation.
- To identify the key dimensions of subjective experience affected by sleep loss.
- To provide a tool for research on individual differences and treatment efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and student-reported symptoms generated an initial item pool.
- A 69-item scale was administered to university students (n=102) during an exam period and on a free day.
- A 26-item version was validated through a 1-week sleep restriction experiment (n=25).
- Factor analysis identified four components: cold, hunger, irritability, and cognitive attenuation (CHICa).
Main Results:
- Factor analysis revealed four components explaining 71.7% of variance: impaired thermoregulation (C), disrupted appetite (H), affective problems (I), and cognitive attenuation (Ca).
- The Polish version of the CHICa scale demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties, with Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.90 to 0.95.
- A 1-week sleep restriction significantly increased all four subscales, with cognitive attenuation being the most pronounced symptom.
- Cognitive issues and lack of energy were identified as specific subjective manifestations of chronic sleep deficit.
Conclusions:
- The CHICa scale effectively measures subjective reactions to sleep deprivation across four key dimensions.
- Cognitive impairment and fatigue are prominent subjective consequences of chronic sleep deficit.
- The CHICa scale is a valuable tool for research into sleep deprivation, individual differences, and treatment effectiveness.
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