Good sleep, good tolerance: Sleep disturbance predicts adolescent intolerance of uncertainty through self-control

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) has recently been identified as a transdiagnostic vulnerability for various forms of psychopathology in adolescents. However, little research has explored the factors contributing to IU, limiting the development of effective early intervention and prevention strategies. This study investigated whether sleep disturbance predicts IU and examined the mediating role of self-control in this relationship.

A total of 910 adolescents (Mean age = 14.63 years, SD = 1.41, range = 12-18; 60.7 % girls) completed a two-wave survey assessing sleep disturbance, self-control, and IU. Cross-sectional and longitudinal mediation analyses were conducted to test the predictive role of sleep disturbance on IU and the indirect effect through self-control.

Sleep disturbance significantly predicted IU concurrently and prospectively, with self-control mediating these relationships. In the cross-sectional mediation model, self-control accounts for 35.9 % of the association between sleep disturbance and IU (indirect effect = 0.104, SE = 0.017, 95 % CI [0.072, 0.138]). In the longitudinal mediation models, baseline self-control mediated 27.8 % of the association between sleep disturbance and later IU (indirect effect = 0.050, SE = 0.013, 95 % CI [0.025, 0.077]); Meanwhile, later self-control also mediated 41.5 % of the association between baseline sleep disturbance and later IU (indirect effect = 0.054, SE = 0.013, 95 % CI [0.030, 0.081]).

These findings preliminarily suggested sleep disturbance as a risk factor for adolescent IU and identified self-control as a key underlying mechanism. Interventions aimed at improving sleep hygiene and enhancing self-control may help reduce IU and support mental health during adolescence.