Sleep Reactivity and Related Factors in Adolescence: An Increased Risk for Insomnia? A Longitudinal Assessment

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Sleep Medicine
• Sleep Reactivity Research
• Mental Health in Adolescence

Background:

• Sleep reactivity, or the tendency to experience sleep difficulties in response to stress, is a known risk factor for insomnia in adults.
• However, the role and predictors of sleep reactivity in adolescents remain largely unexplored.
• Understanding sleep reactivity in this age group is crucial for identifying potential pathways to insomnia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors associated with sleep reactivity in adolescents.
• To investigate whether sleep reactivity and related factors predict current and incident insomnia in adolescents.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 185 adolescents (aged 11–17) completed validated questionnaires on sleep, stress, and psychological symptoms.
• Participants used sleep diaries and actigraphy, and underwent insomnia diagnoses (ISCD-3 criteria) at multiple time points over 1.5 years.
• An age-appropriate version of the Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test was administered at baseline.

Main Results:

• Adolescents with high sleep reactivity reported increased pre-sleep arousal, negative cognitions, mobile phone use, stress, and internalizing/externalizing symptoms.
• They also had fewer social resources and later bedtimes.
• High sleep reactivity was associated with current insomnia but did not predict the development of new insomnia cases.

Conclusions:

• High sleep reactivity in adolescents is linked to poorer sleep and mental health outcomes.
• The findings question the role of sleep reactivity as a primary predisposing factor for the development of insomnia in this age group.
• Further research may explore alternative pathways or interventions targeting sleep reactivity.