The Role of Self-Monitoring and Response Inhibition in Improving Sleep Behaviours

Abstract

Background: Young adults tend to have poor sleep, which may be a result of poor self-regulation. Purpose: This study investigated whether manipulating two aspects of self-regulation: self-monitoring and response inhibition could improve sleep behaviours. Method: University students (N = 190) were randomly allocated to complete (1) a self-monitoring sleep diary and response inhibition training, (2) a sleep diary only, or (3) a control questionnaire daily for a period of 7 days. Results: Outcome measures were three sleep hygiene behaviours previously found to be particularly important in this population: avoiding going to bed hungry and thirsty, avoiding anxiety and stress-provoking activity before bed, and making the bedroom and sleep environment restful. Those who completed diary-based self-monitoring successfully avoided anxiety and stress-provoking activity before bed more frequently than control participants, corresponding to a medium effect size, and further development may provide a simple intervention to improve aspects of sleep and other health behaviours. Conclusion: There was no incremental effect of response inhibition training. Modified response inhibition training tasks may be worth investigating in future research.