The relationships between wanting to nap, actually napping, and depressed and anxious mood

These studies disentangle the relationships between wanting to nap (nap desire), actually napping (nap behavior), and depressed and anxious mood. Study 1 partially replicated and extended findings connecting napping and depressed and anxious mood. Study 2 explored the distinction between nap desire and behavior using a new, larger sample and a different technique.

Study 1 used a longitudinal, multimethod approach to understand napping and mood among undergraduate students in the United States (N = 104). In Study 2, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on adults over 25 in the continental United States (N = 1406), including items from the DASS-21 and questions about nap desire and behavior.

Study 1 found a significant relationship between same-day napping behavior and depressed mood (M _nap = 1.61, SE _nap = 0.08 vs. M _{no nap} = 1.44, SE _{no nap} = 0.06, p = .018) but not anxious mood (p = .766). Study 2 partially replicated those findings; Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) showed that napping desire had a significant effect on anxious (F(1, 1291) = 6.86, p = .009, partial η² = .005) and depressed mood (F(1, 1291) = 13.46, p < .001, partial η² = .010), accounting for age, gender, and restedness, but napping behavior did not add to that effect.

Wanting to nap is related to greater depressed and anxious mood, but actual napping did not add to that relationship. These results have implications for clinicians using sleep assessment as a screening tool for mental health and highlight the need for further research on napping motivation.