Testing the Daily Bidirectional Relationships Between Stress and Sleep Using Bivariate Multilevel Autoregressive...

Area of Science:

• Psychology and Sleep Science
• Behavioral Health

Background:

• Stress and sleep are bidirectionally linked, with perseverative cognition (worry and rumination) acting as a key mediator.
• Understanding the interplay between daily stress, cognitive patterns, and sleep quality is crucial for mental and physical well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the daily relationships between stress, perseverative cognition, and sleep (duration and efficiency).
• To examine whether habitual physical activity moderates the association between daily stress and sleep.

Main Methods:

• 155 adult participants completed daily text-based surveys for 7 days assessing stress, perseverative cognition, and sleep.
• Habitual physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.
• Bivariate multilevel autoregressive modeling (ML-VAR) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were employed for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Both daily stress and perseverative cognition significantly predicted shorter sleep duration and lower sleep efficiency.
• Perseverative cognition demonstrated a stronger negative impact on sleep duration compared to stress.
• Higher levels of habitual moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were associated with a weaker relationship between stress and sleep duration.

Conclusions:

• Stress and perseverative cognition have a more pronounced impact on subsequent sleep than vice versa.
• Physical activity plays a significant role in mitigating the negative effects of stress on sleep.
• These findings underscore the importance of managing cognitive processes and promoting physical activity for improved sleep health.