How personality traits shape sleep quality

From las.iastate.edu 

According to research by an Iowa State University psychologist, how well you sleep may depend as much on your personality as it does on your habits.

Zlatan Krizan, professor of psychology, has spent more than a decade studying how personality traits affect both the perception and quality of sleep. His work suggests that people who are more emotionally unstable and less conscientious not only feel like they sleep poorly – they actually do.

“Personality differences explain a lot of why some people are more anxious or depressed than others,” Krizan said. “Those same emotional differences also show up in sleep behaviour.”

A natural link between personality and sleep

Recognising the central role of emotional regulation in both sleep quality and personality traits, Krizan identified a natural connection between the two domains.

Krizan’s 2019 study titled, “Personality and Sleep: Neuroticism and Conscientiousness Predict Behaviourally Recorded Sleep Years Later,” published in the European Journal of Personality, showed that individuals high in neuroticism and low in conscientiousness not only perceived poorer sleep but also exhibited fragmented sleep.

The research utilised self-reported sleep diaries and actigraphy – a method that uses wearable devices to track sleep patterns through movement-based monitoring.

This dual method approach allowed researchers to assess whether personality traits such as neuroticism and conscientiousness correlated with actual disruptions in sleep beyond mere self-reports.

“We wanted to see whether personality was just influencing people’s impressions of how they sleep, or if it also affected how they actually sleep,” Krizan said. “And it turns out the connection is very real.”

When sleep feels worse than it is: Paradoxical insomnia

Krizan’s research also explores the idea of “paradoxical insomnia,” or “sleep state misperception,” where people believe they are sleeping far worse than they are.

This misperception, he found, is more common among individuals with high emotional instability, as distressed individuals tend to overestimate the extent of their sleep disruption. This further supports the idea that personality traits can shape sleep behaviour and how that behaviour is interpreted.

“Some people might wake up once or twice and think they’ve been awake all night,” Krizan said. “That disconnect between perception and reality often comes down to how sensitive someone is to emotional or physical changes.”

Genetic and developmental links: Twins

Collaborating with colleagues at the University of Minnesota – particularly in their twin studies – Krizan examined genetic foundations of the sleep-personality link and whether certain personality traits and sleep disturbances share the same genetic roots.

In a 2023 article published in the Journal of Sleep Research, Krizan and his co-authors explain connections among middle-aged twins to identify whether inherited traits could underlie chronic sleep problems.

Beyond genetic influences, Krizan examines how sleep and personality shape each other over time. Poor sleep in childhood may affect emotional development and long-term personality traits – and whether early personality characteristics can set children on a path toward sleep difficulties.

Sleep, law, and public health

In addition to foundational research, Krizan explores the intersection of sleep and law. His work connects how sleep deprivation affects behaviour in high-stakes environments such as police interrogations and crisis situations.

While mentoring graduate and undergraduate students at Iowa State, Krizan also partners with researchers from other institutions. His work utilizes publicly available data from sources like the National Institutes of Health, allowing for representative sample sizes.

“There’s growing recognition that sleep isn’t just a health issue – it’s a psychological one, too,”

Krizan said. “Understanding the personality side of it can help us find better ways to promote
well-being across the lifespan.”

https://news.las.iastate.edu/2025/06/09/how-personality-traits-shape-sleep-quality/

Insomnia Isn’t Just About Sleep, Your Personality Plays a Role

From neurosciencenews.com

Summary: Certain personality traits significantly influence the risk of developing insomnia. People with high levels of neuroticism—a trait linked to emotional instability—were much more likely to experience sleep disturbances.

In contrast, individuals scoring higher in openness showed lower levels of insomnia, suggesting a protective effect. Anxiety was found to be the key mechanism mediating the relationship between neuroticism and insomnia, while depression was not a significant factor.

Key Facts:

• Neuroticism Risk: 61.7% of insomniacs had high neuroticism vs. 32% of non-insomniacs.
• Protective Trait: Openness to experience was linked with lower insomnia rates.
• Anxiety Link: Anxiety fully mediates the relationship between neuroticism and insomnia.

Source: FAPESP

A study conducted at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil examined the influence of personality traits on the development and perpetuation of insomnia and found that there is a direct relationship between the two.

Two findings caught the researchers’ attention: high levels of openness were associated with low levels of insomnia, while high levels of neuroticism (characterized by emotional instability) were very common in people with the sleep disorder.

The results were published in the Journal of Sleep Research.

“We decided to study the influence of personality traits on insomnia because it’s an extremely common disorder that has negative health consequences, such as an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, anxiety and depression.

“These different physical and mental health conditions lead to a poorer quality of life in general,” explains Bárbara Araújo Conway, sleep psychologist and author of the master’s dissertation defended at the Institute of Psychiatry of FM-USP, with the support of FAPESP and under the supervision of Professor Renatha El Rafihi-Ferreira, of the Department of Clinical Psychology.

As the authors explain, insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders in adults. It is estimated that around 30% of the world’s population suffers from the problem, which is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or returning to sleep after an unwanted awakening.

In Brazil, specifically in the city of São Paulo, this figure is even higher: almost half of the population (45%) suffers from insomnia, according to data from the Epidemiological Sleep Study (EPISONO). 

Five personality traits

According to Conway, there is a well-established theory in the literature that proposes the existence of the “3 Ps” of insomnia: predisposition (factors that make an individual more likely to have the disorder), precipitation (triggers associated with the onset of symptoms) and perpetuation (behaviours that cause the person to remain in the vicious cycle of insomnia).

Thus, the researchers hypothesized that neuroticism, which is more prevalent in insomniacs, could be considered a predisposing factor for sleep disorders.

They also examined whether symptoms of anxiety and depression might act as mediators and moderators of the association between neuroticism and insomnia.

But to understand how the authors arrived at the results of the study, we need to take a step back and learn about personality traits.

“These are characteristics that estimate a pattern of what a particular person’s feelings, thoughts and behaviours are like. They’re a set of factors that make up an individual’s personality and characteristics.

“According to the Big Five theory, we all have different levels of the five personality traits,” the psychologist explained.

They are:

1 – Extroversion: People with higher levels of extroversion tend to be more talkative, more dominant, with a leadership profile. They prefer group activities, find it easier to relate and create intimacy and tend to be more assertive. People with low levels of extroversion, on the other hand, are not necessarily introverts, but they prefer to be more alone and tend to find it more difficult to work in groups.
2 – Neuroticism: This is a personality trait related to the degree of emotional stability. People with high levels of neuroticism tend to be more emotionally unstable and focus on the more negative aspects of life. They are people who, when faced with adversity, tend to become disorganized, suffer more intensely, and are more susceptible to stress. Scientific literature shows that high neuroticism correlates with anxiety and depression.
3 – Agreeableness: This is a personality trait related to empathy. People with high levels of agreeableness tend to be more empathetic, more cordial and concerned about the well-being of others, focusing a lot on the other person’s situation (they may even be naive and value the other person to the detriment of themselves). Those with low scores tend to be more sceptical and suspicious.
4 – Openness to experience: People who are open to new experiences tend to be more creative, with exploratory behaviour in the face of novelty. They are curious, imaginative and experience emotions more intensely. People with low levels of openness are those who prefer routine, avoid discomfort and tend to be conventional.
5 – Conscientiousness: This can also be called achievement. People with high levels are determined, committed, motivated, persevering and can sacrifice momentary pleasures in pursuit of a greater goal. A very high index may not be good because it can lead to perfectionism. Those with low scores are less demanding, less stubborn, and would be considered “lazy” in the common sense of the word.

The study

To arrive at the results, the researchers studied 595 participants between the ages of 18 and 59, divided into two groups: one made up of insomniacs who had sought help and received a formal diagnosis from a sleep specialist, and the other half was a control group of people who had no complaints of insomnia.

Each participant’s personality levels were determined using a 60-question, score-based questionnaire used exclusively by psychology professionals. Volunteers from both groups answered the questions, allowing the researchers to determine the scores for each person’s personality traits.

After applying the questionnaire to the two groups, cross-checking and analysing the data, Conway found that the insomnia patients had much higher scores for neuroticism than the non-insomnia subjects, as well as lower scores for agreeableness, openness and conscientiousness.

Extroversion was the only personality trait that did not show a significant difference.

“Neuroticism was the trait that stood out the most, with insomniacs having a much higher rate. But we can’t say that insomniacs are more introverted,” Conway ponders.

The analyses also showed that: 61.7% of the insomniacs had high levels of neuroticism compared to 32% of the control group; 40.7% of the insomniacs had low levels of openness compared to 23% of the healthy group; 31.5% of the subjects with insomnia had low levels of agreeableness compared to 23.2% of the non-insomniacs; and 37.7% of the insomniacs had low levels of conscientiousness compared to 24.1% of the control group.

“After more detailed statistical analysis, the results of the study allow us to assert that people with high levels of neuroticism are more likely to have insomnia,” says the researcher.

The group also carried out a statistical analysis to see if any other factor might be confounding the association between neuroticism and insomnia, and discovered that anxiety acts as a mediating mechanism, meaning that it is the symptoms of anxiety that actually cause neuroticism to influence the development of insomnia.

“It explains the whole effect of high neuroticism on insomnia,” says the researcher.

The group also tested the role of depression, but it did not prove to be an important mechanism in this relationship.

Effect on practice

Considering that personality traits are associated with positive or negative physical and mental health outcomes, the study suggests that it is important to know the most prevalent personality traits among individuals with insomnia so that this knowledge can help in the process of assessment, prevention and planning of more appropriate treatments according to the specific characteristics of each patient.

The results confirm that in order to treat a patient’s insomnia, it is also necessary to assess and treat their anxiety.

“These findings are important in clinical practice because when receiving patients with this personality trait, it’s essential to think about a treatment plan that focuses not only on sleep but also on anxiety,” says El Rafihi-Ferreira.

But for this to happen, healthcare professionals need to understand and assess the personalities of patients who seek help for sleep problems.

“We know that most insomniacs are highly neurotic. These patients deserve to have their anxiety assessed and treated so that their insomnia also improves.

“Sometimes this involves different therapies and medications, so it’s important to take a broader look at each individual’s history and specifics,” Conway emphasizes.

Currently, the treatment considered the “gold standard” for insomnia is cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), but there are still too few psychologists specializing in sleep in Brazil to offer it.

For this reason, the researchers advocate that health professionals take a broader view and delve deeper into the study of patients’ psychological factors.

“The association between personality traits, anxiety and insomnia makes it important to develop transdiagnostic treatment protocols, i.e. those that involve the integration of behavioural techniques and processes to treat a range of emotional difficulties that share processes and mechanisms underlying the different complaints,” says the study’s supervisor.

“We already have a non-pharmacological treatment for insomnia, but just as we don’t have a drug that will be effective for all patients, a single therapy approach may not work for everyone.

“These results contribute to the development of new, more personalized psychological and behavioural protocols for the treatment of insomnia,” Conway concludes.

https://neurosciencenews.com/insomnia-personality-neuroticism-28977/ 

Having Trouble Sleeping? Here’s How 6 Different Women Are Coping With Restless Nights

From refinery29.com

Editor's Note: Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. The below testimonials represent personal anecdotes surrounding sleeplessness in quarantine. When experiencing symptoms of insomnia, it may be important for you to consult your healthcare provider.

In the past year, while we’ve weathered months on end of prolonged quarantine, the notion of “a good night’s sleep” has radically shifted. And for some of us, it’s been a turn for the worst: erratic sleep schedules, restlessness, insomnia, you name it.

 

Even for those of us who identify as traditionally healthy sleepers, this is a common phenomenon. Late at night, more and more of us are finding ourselves doom-scrolling, or ruminating on things like health anxieties, finances, and work-life balance (or the lack thereof). And, whether you’ve been diagnosed with insomnia by a health care provider, or you’re just finding it difficult to normalize your bedtime hours in quarantine, it's certainly worth addressing.

That’s why we tapped six different women experiencing some form of sleeplessness right now to share the tried-and-tested personal solutions they’ve discovered to help with more restful nights at home — from lavender essential oil regimens and late-night walks to ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) head lice videos. Of course, you should always consult your doctor first when it comes to consistent sleeplessness, but if you’re looking for a little late-night camaraderie, these first hand accounts from women across the country detail the sometimes silly, always well intentioned, occasionally absurd tactics they’ve employed to combat their own sleeplessness in quarantine. And while these solves won't replace medical advice, they will offer a little voyeurism into other folks' waking hours.

“I am extremely passionate about sleep (I feel best when I'm getting nine or even 10 hours per night), but I also can't resist the siren call of social media, so ‘doomscrolling’ has been my downfall this past year. In March and April, I was glued to my phone, tracking the rising COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. In May and June, I was reading everything I could about Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests. Most recently, it's the vaccine rollout and evolving virus variants that have me preoccupied. 

So, instead of trying to quit my late-night screen habit, I’ve decided to use it to my advantage. These days, YouTube videos that fall under the category of what I call ‘unintentional ASMR’ have become my sleepy-time secret weapon. Traditional whisper videos don't work for me; I go for interviews or instructional videos featuring nice, pleasant voices that have zero affiliation to the current news cycle.

My all-time favourites include a random beauty interview with Victoria Beckham (a vocal icon), anything from my favourite cat-centric Youtube channel (in-depth reviews of different kitty litters and foods, exciting stuff!), and a healthcare video about head lice (so gross, I know — but it works, so I watch!). Occasionally, it'll take a few of these in a row before I drift off, but often, I'm almost asleep after one.”

— Elana, 34, quarantined in Manhattan with her fiancé, and her cat, Liz Lemon

“I’ve never been a good sleeper. Pandemic aside, I’ve always been filled with existential dread. So, I decided to make better sleep my quarantine project. Pre-COVID, I got around four hours [of sleep] a night due to work, constant travel, and stress — but now, I get around five or six hours and I feel much more well-rested. The key for me isn’t going to bed early, but rather, going to bed after 11:30 or midnight so I can stay asleep all night — and also, sticking to a hyper specific night-time routine.

The first part of my bedtime routine is to go outside and get fresh air. If I work from home, then I require five minutes of outside-time no matter the weather. Next, I take my standard multi-vitamins. Then, I take a scalding hot shower, before moving through my aggressive, Joan Crawford-esque skincare routine, and make sure I have at least two litres of water at my bedside, so I don’t have to exit the room once the turn down starts (I call it that because going to sleep is a process. I’ve never been able to just fall asleep so I need to make it a really sensory experience). I put all of my devices on their respective chargers, refill my humidifier with water and citrus essential oils, burn palo santo, and then stretch. I stop looking at my phone an hour before I should be asleep, and watch a show I’ve already seen, then I’ll usually drift off about 20 minutes after its started. I wouldn’t exactly recommend this routine to everyone, being that it’s highly tailored to my own needs — which demand that I create structure to make sense of this mess — but it’s certainly worked for me. 

— Dione, 33, quarantined in Brooklyn with her three roommates

“When all this madness started last March, I went to bed at 3 or 4 am every night. The red TV headlines were like tragic lullabies — I’d fall asleep devouring new stats or learning about the outbreak red zones. It was like being trapped in Groundhog Day. Day after day the same tiring-exhausting feeling. But after a few months, I decided those raccoon-like dark circles HAD TO GO. That's when I decided to tweak a few things.

“I started to do online pilates sessions — 45 minutes daily — and I stopped drinking my beloved espressos after 2 pm. I darkened all our bedroom windows, started drinking decaf valerian or Linden tea at 9 pm, and lowered the heat in my house to 62F when I was getting ready to sleep. I also started taking an OTC natural sleep aid and replaced my pillow covers with silk ones. Now, I sleep seven uninterrupted hours and the nightmares have decreased severely in number. The dark circles are still there but at least I no longer feel like Bill Murray!”

— Ana, 40, quarantined with her husband and two sons in New Jersey

“I’ve been a bad sleeper since childhood, but things got way worse in college. I’m a night owl so I’m often my most creative and productive at night. But when I don’t have a reason to stay up working on anything, I still can’t fall asleep, no matter what I do. Once I’m out, I’m gone —  I can sleep in easily until 10 am. (sometimes later), but getting to sleep has always been my issue. Most nights, I watch the clock go from 10 pm when I get into bed to read, to 11pm when my husband falls sound asleep, to 1 am when I’m wondering how the hell I’m still wide awake. 

“I’ve tried tons of different things throughout the years to help me fall asleep in a more reasonable timeframe, but as of late, I’ve found a pretty solid routine. I love a good epsom salt bath. I love lavender oil on my palms. Some nights, I’ll try a CBD supplement I give myself a few hours at night to zone-out to bad television — usually Real Housewives or HGTV (I worship Leanne Ford!). Some nights, I use a Bluetooth-connected eye mask which lets me black out the world while I listen to a podcast (anything from Wondery to Parcast), and if that doesn’t help me doze off, I listen to a sleep meditation on my phone.

— Stacie, 30, quarantined with her husband and her dog in Scottsdale, AZ

“My sleep challenges have varied this past year. They’ve ranged from difficulty falling asleep, to trouble staying asleep, to struggling with getting out of bed. A few months ago, though, I tried rearranging the layout of my apartment, to support better sleep. I moved my bed near the window, where it now faces a wall with plants instead of my kitchen (oh, the studio life!) and I must say, I've been able to sleep through the night a lot better. 

I also love taking night showers so that I feel warm and relaxed before going to bed. Then, once I’m showered, I typically light a candle, have a cup of tea, and try to relax on the couch and watch TV or read a book. I like to occasionally spritz my sheets with a calming lavender scent, moisturize my hands, and finally, turn on some 'rain pipes' sleep music which usually does the trick!”

— Jessica, 33, quarantined alone in Brooklyn, NY

“Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with both insomnia and depression by my primary care doctor. I had no issues falling asleep, but I was having trouble staying asleep. An hour or so after dosing off, I’d consistently find myself wide awake, again. Sometimes it was off and on, and sometimes I wouldn’t go back to sleep at all. Quarantine seemed to exacerbate all of these tendencies, making it harder for me to sleep than ever before. And after trying many over-the-counter sleep solutions, I was still not getting any more rest.

“About four months ago, my doctor prescribed me a sleep medication called DAYVIGOⓇ (lemborexant) CIV, which I was told might help people with insomnia fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Now, I take 10mg every day and am finding that I fall asleep — and stay asleep — in a way that feels natural. There have been a few nights where I’ve still woken up, even on the medicine, but overall, since taking DAYVIGO, I feel like my sleep has notably improved. Of course, results with any medication will vary, but for me personally, this has been a great option for my condition.”

—Emily*, quarantined in Salisbury, NC with her husband, son, and four dogs

Interviews have been edited for concision and clarity.

*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the respondent

Disclaimer: DAYVIGO is a prescription medicine for adults age 18 years and older who have trouble falling or staying asleep (insomnia). Do not take DAYVIGO if you fall asleep often at unexpected times (narcolepsy). Please see additional Important Safety Information included at the end of this article. Please also see Medication Guide for DAYVIGO.

Important Safety Information

DAYVIGO may cause serious side effects including:

• decreased awareness and alertness. The morning after you take DAYVIGO, your ability to drive safely and think clearly may be decreased. You may also have sleepiness during the day. Do not take more DAYVIGO than prescribed. Do not take DAYVIGO unless you are able to stay in bed for a full night (at least 7 hours) before you must be active again. Take DAYVIGO right before going to bed.

Do not take DAYVIGO if you fall asleep often at unexpected times (narcolepsy).

DAYVIGO is a federally controlled substance because it can be abused or cause dependence.

Before taking DAYVIGO, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have a history of depression, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts; drug or alcohol abuse or addiction; a sudden onset of muscle weakness (cataplexy); daytime sleepiness
• have lung problems or breathing problems, including sleep apnea
• have liver problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

• Taking DAYVIGO with certain other medicines can cause serious side effects. DAYVIGO may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect the way DAYVIGO works.
• Do not take DAYVIGO with other medicines that can make you sleepy unless your healthcare provider tells you to.

What should I avoid while taking DAYVIGO?

• Do not drink alcohol while taking DAYVIGO. It can increase your chances of getting serious side effects.
• Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, do anything dangerous, or other activities that require clear thinking if you take DAYVIGO and have had less than a full night of sleep (at least 7 hours) or if you have taken more DAYVIGO than prescribed by your healthcare provider.
• You may still feel drowsy the next day after taking DAYVIGO. Do not drive or do other dangerous activities until you feel fully awake.

DAYVIGO may cause serious side effects, including:

• temporary inability to move or talk (sleep paralysis) for up to several minutes while you are going to sleep or waking up
• temporary weakness in your legs that can happen during the day or at night
• complex sleep behaviours such as sleep-walking, sleep-driving, preparing and eating food, making phone calls, having sex or doing other activities while not fully awake that you may not remember the next morning.
• worsening depression and suicidal thoughts have happened during treatment with DAYVIGO.

The most common side effect of DAYVIGO is sleepiness.

These are not all of the possible side effects of DAYVIGO. Call your doctor for medical advice and if you have any new or worsening side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call1-800-FDA-1088.

Please read the Medication Guide for DAYVIGO and discuss it with your doctor.

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/real-sleeping-tips-quarantine

How Your Personality Type Affects Your Sleep

From beliefnet.com

Being a naturally anxious or stressed person could be affecting your sleep. Perfectionism and being prone to depression may be directly contributing to your insomnia.

Sleep experts who have studied insomniacs have concluded that certain personality traits could indicate a predisposition to insomnia. Simply, your personality type affects your sleeping patterns.

Researchers agree that there are five personality types that suffer from insomnia in different ways and for different reasons. These range from type 1 – highly distressed – to type 5 – slightly distressed with low reactivity. Finding your personality type can help you address insomnia. Here are the ways in which your personality type affects your sleep:

Night owls versus early birds
Research shows that your genetics will determine whether you are an early bird or a night owl. Your internal clock’s schedule is determined by your chronotype and your genetics determines your chronotype.

Further, night owls tend to identify more with type B personality traits, while early birds relate more to type A personality traits. According to this, early birds have lower rates of depression, lower levels of anxiety, and are happier with life. 
Night owls tend to be higher risk-takers who are more creative but suffer more from insomnia. It is also said that type As are more goal-driven while type Bs are more laid back.

Struggling to fall asleep
If you are a type A personality, chances are you are probably an over-thinker. This could mean you have some trouble with letting go of what stresses you, especially at night when you are preparing for sleep. This might result in you replaying the actions of the day or worrying about many things.

This inability to turn off your brain may lead to you struggling to fall asleep. Being kept awake by your anxiety can be treated through therapy. What many people recommend is writing down all your thoughts before bed and setting them aside till the morning.

Is my personality type ruining my sleep?
If you know your personality type you might already be able to relate to these explanations. However, if you do not, you might be wondering to what extent your personality type affects your sleep.

An enneagram test categorizes the human mind into 9 personality types. This is useful in understanding how your mind works and why you respond the way you do to stressors and your environment. 

Checking your personality type is as simple as taking a fifteen-minute online personality test. Once you know your personality type, it will become easier to address insomnia’s causes, and perhaps manage your sleep schedule better.

Addressing personality-related insomnia
It is important to understand that insomnia is completely within your control. If it’s common for you to say that you are lucky to get a few hours of sleep each night, then you should see your doctor.

Your primary healthcare provider should be able to help you find the root cause of your insomnia and address it with medication or treatment.

If the root cause of your insomnia is a mental health issue like anxiety or depression, you might need to visit a mental health specialist. A mental health specialist can address these problems with proper medication for the underlying issue, such as antidepressants. Behavioural interventions can also be of help to address these problems.

If these methods are ineffective and your insomnia persists, you might want to address the problem through sleep-specific cognitive behavioural therapy. This will help you identify negative thoughts and change them into positive thoughts that have an overall positive outcome. Sleep therapy could cure your insomnia if executed correctly.

https://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/dreamgates/2020/02/how-your-personality-type-affects-your-sleep.html