Sleep and self-control: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Sleep Science

Background:

• Self-control, crucial for a productive life, involves managing impulses and resisting temptations.
• Existing research suggests a significant, yet fragmented, link between sleep and self-control.
• This study addresses the need for empirical integration of findings across various sleep and self-control literatures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically investigate the predictive relationship between sleep quality and duration with self-control.
• To explore how different levels of analysis (between-individual vs. within-individual) influence this relationship.
• To examine variations based on research design (experimental vs. correlational) and measurement types (subjective vs. objective).

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive systematic review of relevant literature was conducted.
• Databases searched included ABI/Inform (PsycInfo), ERIC, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, PubMed, and Psychology Database.
• Sixty-one independent studies met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis.

Main Results:

• Both sleep quality and sleep duration were found to be significant predictors of self-control.
• Sleep quality showed stronger associations (between-individual: r=0.26; within-individual: r=0.35) than sleep duration (between-individual: r=0.14; within-individual: r=0.20).
• These relationships held across different analytical levels and research designs.

Conclusions:

• Sleep quality and duration are empirically validated correlates of self-control.
• Future research should explore the causal mechanisms, potentially involving prefrontal cortex activity.
• Investigating moderators, such as individual and contextual factors, is essential for a complete understanding.