The development and validation of the pre-sleep excitement-inducing activities scale

Existing pre-sleep arousal measures emphasize distress-based symptoms, leaving positively valenced sources of activation, such as excitement-inducing evening activities, largely unassessed and a potential unmeasured contributor to sleep-onset difficulty. We developed and evaluated the Pre-Sleep Excitement-Inducing Activities Scale (PSEIA) to address this gap.

A 34-item pool underwent expert review and cognitive debriefing. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted in Phase 1 (n = 150). In an independent Phase 2 sample (n = 301), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested correlated three-factor, higher-order, and bifactor models. Internal consistency, two-week test-retest reliability (n = 150), and associations with the Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS) were evaluated.

Although parallel analysis suggested four factors, a more interpretable three-factor solution retained 18 items: Cognitive Stimulation, Informational Stimulation, and Recreational Stimulation. The correlated three-factor model showed CFI = .99, TLI = .99, RMSEA = .08, and SRMR = .06. The higher-order model had identical global fit; the bifactor model showed CFI = .99, TLI = .99, RMSEA = .07, and SRMR = .05. Total-score reliability was high (α = .92; ω = .95; ωH = .74), as was test-retest reliability (ICC = .93). The PSEIA correlated moderately with PSAS total score (r = .51, p < .001). The two shorter factors showed substantial overlap, and the three-item factor had marginal alpha (.69).

The PSEIA provides an initial measure of activity-linked pre-sleep activation. Its reliable total score is supported by shared variance across factors, but subscale distinctiveness and clinical utility require further validation.