Posttraumatic stress symptoms and positive autobiographical memory characteristics in everyday life.

Individuals with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) report difficulties engaging with positive autobiographical memories. Extending this line of research, we examined daily-level concurrent and lagged associations between PTSS severity and positive memory characteristics (vividness, coherence, accessibility, time perspective, sensory details, visual perspective, emotional intensity, sharing, distancing, and valence). The sample included 88 trauma survivors (Mage = 39.89 years, 59.1% female) who completed seven daily measures of PTSS and positive memory characteristics. Multilevel models examined concurrent and lagged associations between PTSS severity and positive memory characteristics. The results indicated that days with higher PTSS severity were associated with less accessibility, ß = -.21, p < .001; less visual perspective, ß = -0.13, p = .034; and lower positive valence of the memory, ß = -.19, p = .003, as well as more emotional intensity associated with, ß = .13, p = .041, and more distancing from, ß = .21, p < .001, the memory. Supplemental lagged analyses indicated that higher previous-day PTSS severity was associated with more next-day distancing from, ß = .15, p = .042, and sensory details of, ß = .17, p = .016, the memory. Findings suggest that individuals with more severe PTSS have difficulties accessing positively valenced memories from a first-person perspective, are more distant from the recalled positive memory, and report more emotional intensity when retrieving the memory. Thus, improving access to and reducing distance from positive autobiographical memories, as well as addressing emotional intensity surrounding the retrieval of these memories, may be potential clinical targets for PTSS interventions.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Insomnia Severity Index in Nurses.

OBJECTIVES: Examine psychometric properties of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) in a sample of nurses. METHOD: In a sample of day shift nurses (N = 289), a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), convergent and discriminant validity analyses, and a test-retest reliability analysis were performed. RESULTS: CFA showed that a two-factor model provided the best fit. The ISI had moderate to poor convergent validity with sleep diary parameters, and moderate convergent validity with the Sleep Condition Indicator (r = -.66), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (r = .66), and PROMIS Sleep-Related Impairment measure (r = .67). The ISI demonstrated good discriminant validity with the measures Composite Scale of Morningness (r = -.27), Nightmares Disorder Index (r = .25), PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (sleep items removed; r = .32), and Perceived Stress Scale (r = .43). The ISI had weaker discriminant validity with the PHQ-9 (r = .69) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (r = .51). The ISI demonstrated a good test-retest reliability (ICCs = .74-.88). CONCLUSIONS: The ISI is a psychometrically strong measure for the assessment of insomnia severity in day shift nurses. Overlap with psychological symptoms, primarily anxiety and depression, suggests caution while interpreting these constructs.

Irregular sleep is linked to poorer mental health: A pooled analysis of eight studies.

OBJECTIVES: Greater sleep disturbances on average are a risk factor for impaired mental health. Recent research has shown that more intraindividual variability (i.e., inconsistency) in sleep (hereafter called "sleep intraindividual variability") may also be uniquely related to mental health, even above the influence of mean sleep patterns averaged across days. The current study examined associations between sleep intraindividual variability and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia across different facets of sleep intraindividual variability (sleep duration, efficiency, and timing) and sleep measurement types (sleep diary and actigraphy). METHODS: We pooled eight datasets (N = 3053 participants) that assessed repeated measures of sleep diary- and/or actigraphy-determined sleep across multiple days, as well as one-time measures of mental health or sleep disorder symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, and insomnia). Multilevel regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between sleep intraindividual variability and mental health or sleep disorder symptoms. RESULTS: Greater diary- and actigraphy-determined sleep duration intraindividual variability was associated with more depression symptoms (diary: b=0.02, p < .001; actigraphy: b=0.03, p = .006) and more insomnia symptoms (diary: b=0.02, p < .001; actigraphy: b=0.02, p < .001). Greater diary-determined sleep efficiency intraindividual variability was associated with fewer anxiety symptoms (b=-0.23, p = .019) and fewer insomnia symptoms (b=-0.15, p < .001). Greater diary- and actigraphy-determined sleep midpoint intraindividual variability was associated with more insomnia symptoms (diary: b=0.41, p = .044; actigraphy: b=0.66, p = .021). CONCLUSIONS: More inconsistent sleep duration and sleep timing may be a correlate of poorer mental health. Future experimental work should examine whether stabilizing sleep patterns can improve mental health outcomes.

Nightly Sleep Predicts Next-Morning Expectations for Stress and Positive Experiences.

OBJECTIVE: Abundant research has linked nightly sleep as an antecedent of daily psychosocial experiences; however, less is known about sleep's influence on daily expectations of these experiences. Therefore, this research examined the day-to-day associations of sleep quality, duration, and efficiency with next-day expectations for stress(ors) and positive experiences, as well as whether these expectations were related to end-of-day reports of physical symptoms. METHODS: In Study 1, U.S. adults ( n = 354; ages 19 to 74) completed twice-daily diaries for 10 weekdays about sleep, expectations for encountering daily stressors and positive events, and physical symptoms. In Study 2, adults in Canada ( n = 246; ages 25 to 87) wore a sleep watch for 14 consecutive days and completed mobile surveys 5×/day about sleep, stressfulness and pleasantness expectations, and physical symptoms. RESULTS: Multilevel models indicated that self-reported sleep quality and duration, but not efficiency, were associated with lower next-day expectations for stressors (Study 1) and stressfulness (Study 2). Self-reported sleep quality (Study 1) and all sleep indices (Study 2) predicted greater next-day expectations for positive events and pleasantness, respectively. For actigraphy-assessed sleep (Study 2), only longer-than-usual actigraphic sleep duration was associated with lower stressfulness expectations, whereas both sleep duration and efficiency were positively linked with daily pleasantness expectations. Only pleasantness expectations (Study 2)-but not daily stressfulness and event expectations (Study 1)-predicted end-of-day physical symptoms. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest the importance of sleep on expectations of next-day stress and positive experiences, of which may have implications for daily physical health.

Daily-level associations between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and reactions to retrieving positive autobiographical memories.

Trauma survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) report difficulties accessing and describing positive memories. To understand these patterns, we examined daily-level relations of PTSD symptoms with affective, cognitive (dwelling/rumination; pushing memory out of one's mind; suppression; avoidance; distraction; thinking about something else; remembering negative or positive memories/events; negative or positive thoughts; accepting or disapproving memory; reinterpreting memory), and behavioral (using alcohol/drugs; smoking cigarettes; cravings for or seeking out cigarettes/alcohol/drugs; craving, seeking out, or consuming large amounts of food; dissociation; engaging in risky behaviors; sharing memories; interference with ongoing task; arousal) reactions to retrieving positive memories. Eighty-eight trauma survivors (Mage= 39.89 years; 59.1% female) completed 7 daily measures of PTSD and reactions to retrieving positive memories. Days with more PTSD severity were associated with higher odds of same-day suppression, avoidance, distraction, thinking about something else, smoking cigarettes, craving substances, craving, seeking out, or consuming large amounts of food, dissociation, remembering negative memories/events/thoughts, engaging in risky behaviors, interference with ongoing tasks, and arousal (ORs=1.10-1.22); and greater negative affect (ß = 0.27). Supplemental lagged analyses indicated some associations between previous-day reactions to positive memory retrieval and next-day PTSD severity and vice versa. Trauma survivors with PTSD symptoms report negative and avoidance-oriented reactions to retrieving positive memories.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Sleep Disturbances Among Asian Indians: A Systematic Review.

Substantial comorbidity exists between posttraumatic stress disorder and sleep disturbances/disorders. Such comorbidities are understudied in minority groups, including Asian Indians residing in countries outside India. Thus, we synthesized the existing literature specific to this group of Asian Indians to determine (a) prevalence estimates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sleep disturbances/disorders; and (b) PTSD-sleep comorbidity estimates. For this systematic review, we searched four databases (PubMed, PsycInfo, PTSDpubs, Web of Science) using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Of 3,796 screened articles, 9 articles (10 studies) met inclusion criteria. Study sample sizes ranged from 11 to 2,112 Asian Indians; studies were conducted in Singapore or Malaysia. No reviewed study examined PTSD. All studies examined sleep disturbances/disorders among Asian Indians; prevalence estimates were: 8.3% to 70.4% for short sleep duration, 2.0% to 22.9% for long sleep duration, 25.9% to 56.3% for poor sleep quality, 3.4% to 67.5% for insomnia diagnosis or probable insomnia, 7.7% for excessive daytime sleepiness, 3.8% to 54.6% for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) diagnosis or high OSA risk, and 5.1% to 11.1% for sleep-disordered breathing. Specific to Asian Indians residing in countries outside India, this review advances PTSD-sleep literature by (a) suggesting substantial prevalence of sleep disturbances/disorders; (b) highlighting the need for culturally relevant sleep interventions; and (c) highlighting research gaps (e.g., no PTSD-focused research).

Effects of Daily Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms on Heart Rate Variability.

OBJECTIVE: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common, debilitating, and associated with an increased risk of health problems, including cardiovascular disease. PTSD is related to poor autonomic function indicated by reduced heart rate variability (HRV). However, very little work has tested the timescale or direction of these effects, given that most evidence comes from cross-sectional studies. Documentation of when effects occur and in what direction can shed light on mechanisms of cardiovascular disease risk and inform treatment. The present study of 169 World Trade Center responders, oversampled for PTSD, tested how daily PTSD symptoms were associated with autonomic function as reflected through HRV. METHODS: Participants ( N = 169) completed surveys of PTSD symptoms three times a day at 5-hour intervals for 4 days while also wearing ambulatory monitors to record electrocardiograms to derive HRV (i.e., mean absolute value of successive differences between beat-to-beat intervals). RESULTS: HRV did not predict PTSD symptoms. However, PTSD symptoms during a 5-hour interval predicted reduced HRV at the next 5-hour interval ( ß = -0.09, 95% confidence interval = -0.16 to -0.02, p = .008). Results held adjusting for baseline age, current heart problems, and current PTSD diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Findings underscore growing awareness that PTSD symptoms are not static. Even their short-term fluctuations may affect cardiovascular functioning, which could have more severe impacts if disruption accumulates over time. Research is needed to determine if momentary interventions can halt increases in PTSD symptoms or mitigate their impact on cardiovascular health.

Perceived Psychological Control Relates to Coping-related Drinking Motives via Social Anxiety Among Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Mediation Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Accumulating evidence suggests that particular parenting behaviors (e.g., elevated psychological control) may increase risk for both problematic social anxiety and alcohol use among youth; however, no work has yet examined these factors together in a single model. Building developmentally-sensitive models of problematic alcohol use trajectories is key to developing effective prevention and intervention strategies. METHOD: The present study includes 94 adolescents (ages 14-17 years; 53.3% girls; 89.2% White) entering a treatment facility for a variety of internalizing and externalizing forms of psychological distress. Levels of perceived parental psychological control, social anxiety, and coping-related drinking motives were assessed. RESULTS: Higher levels of perceived psychological control was associated with a greater endorsement of coping-related drinking motives; however, a significant proportion of that association was accounted for by elevated social anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These data extend the existing literature and lay groundwork for more sophisticated experimental and longitudinal designs to corroborate the findings. Moreover, personality-targeted drinking interventions for adolescents may benefit from identifying elevated perceived psychological control as a developmentally relevant risk-factor for social anxiety and problematic drinking motives and administering relevant interventions (e.g., personality-targeted coping skills training, parent-involved care) before drinking patterns are established.

Latent profiles of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and sleep disturbances in relation to drinking to cope motives among college students.

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disturbances, and problematic alcohol use are frequently comorbid. Research shows that individuals with more PTSD symptom severity and poorer sleep are highly susceptible to drinking alcohol to cope with negative affect. The current study examined the number and nature of different subgroups of trauma-exposed college students based on endorsed PTSD symptoms and sleep disturbances; and how such subgroups relate to drinking to cope motives. METHOD: The sample included 474 trauma-exposed college students (Mage = 20.69 years; 75.50% female) who completed self-report surveys. RESULTS: Latent profile analyses revealed three subgroups: High PTSD-Sleep Disturbances (n = 71), Moderate PTSD-Sleep Disturbances (n = 135), and Low PTSD-Sleep Disturbances (n = 268). Results indicated that college students in the Low PTSD-Sleep Disturbances group endorsed the lowest amount of coping-related drinking motives; however, college students in the Moderate PTSD-Sleep Disturbances group did not endorse significantly different levels of coping-related drinking motives than college students in the High PTSD-Sleep Disturbances group. CONCLUSIONS: College students with subclinical presentations of psychopathology are at risk for endorsing risky drinking motives. As they adjust to a stressful environment with a culture of heavy drinking, providing context-relevant intervention efforts such as adaptive coping strategies, relaxation skills designed to facilitate restful sleep, and trauma-informed care may be highly beneficial for college students.

The role of affect in associations between sleep disturbances and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: A systematic review.

Strong evidence supports a bidirectional association between sleep disturbances and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Affect - temporary internal states experienced as feeling good or bad, energized or enervated - may play a central role in explaining this link. The current systematic review summarizes the literature on associations between sleep, PTSD, and affect among trauma-exposed adults. We systematically searched five electronic databases (PubMed, PsycInfo, PTSDpubs, Web of Science, CINAHL) using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Of 2656 screened articles, 6 studies met inclusion criteria. Four findings emerged: (1) greater insomnia symptom severity predicted greater PTSD symptom severity above the influence of negative affect, (2) negative affect mediated the effect of sleep quality on next-day PTSD symptom severity, (3) positive affect mediated the effect of PTSD symptom severity on insomnia symptom severity and sleep disturbances, and (4) greater negative affect (specifically, greater anger) was associated with greater severity of PTSD and sleep disturbances. Findings highlight areas for future research, such as the need to investigate more dimensions, timescales, and methods of studies simultaneously assessing affect, sleep, and PTSD, as well as the need for more longitudinal and experimental work to determine causality across these constructs.

Intraindividual variability in sleep duration and college degree attainment.

The objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between sleep characteristics and college degree attainment. Participants were 968 college students (72% female; mean age 19.7 [1.7]). Participants completed a psychosocial and sleep questionnaire battery followed by one week of daily sleep diaries. Academic degree completion data was obtained from the university registrar 10 years later. Logistic regression examined whether mean and variability in sleep duration and sleep efficiency and insomnia symptoms predicted degree attainment, adjusting for age, gender, semester, grade point average (GPA), and perceived stress. The strongest predictors of degree attainment were female gender (OR = 0.67), greater age (OR = 1.32), GPA (OR = 1.97), and lower intraindividual variability in sleep duration (OR = 0.99). Results highlight the importance of examining variability in sleep duration in addition to mean sleep duration in predicting college retention. Future research should use a combination of objective and subjective measures to explore the impact of sleep factors, including variability, on degree completion and other academic metrics.

Treatment of comorbid sleep disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder in U.S. active duty military personnel: A pilot randomized clinical trial.

Insomnia and nightmares are common in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They are associated with worse psychological and physical health and worse PTSD treatment outcomes. In addition, they are resistant to PTSD treatments, which do not typically address sleep disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and nightmares (CBT-I&N) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for PTSD are first-line treatments, but limited evidence exists guiding the treatment of individuals with all three disorders. The current study randomized U.S. military personnel (N = 93) to one of three conditions: CBT-I&N delivered before CPT, CBT-I&N delivered after CPT, or CPT alone; all groups received 18 sessions. Across groups, participants demonstrated significantly improved PTSD symptoms. Because the study was terminated prematurely due to challenges with recruitment and retention, it was underpowered to answer the initially intended research questions. Nonetheless, statistical findings and relevant clinically meaningful changes were observed. Compared to participants who received CPT alone, those who received CBT-I&N and CPT, regardless of sequencing, demonstrated larger improvements in PTSD symptoms, d = -0.36; insomnia, d = -0.77; sleep efficiency, d = 0.62; and nightmares, d = -.53. Compared to participants who received CBT-I&N delivered before CPT, those who received CBT-I&N delivered after CPT demonstrated larger improvements in PTSD symptoms, d = 0.48, and sleep efficiency, d = -0.44. This pilot study suggests that treating comorbid insomnia, nightmares, and PTSD symptoms results in clinically meaningful advantages in improvement for all three concerns compared to treating PTSD alone.

Impacts of repeated retrieval of positive and neutral memories on posttrauma health: An investigative pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Evidence indicates that positive memory processes play a role in the etiology and maintenance of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and related posttrauma health indicators. To extend this research, the current pilot study examined if repeated retrieval of positive vs. neutral memories was associated with (1) less PTSS and depression severity; and (2) improved affect and cognitions (fewer posttrauma cognitions, more positively-valenced affect, less negatively-valenced affect, less negative affect interference, less anhedonia, retrieval of more positive specific memories, retrieval of fewer negative specific memories). METHODS: Twenty-five trauma-exposed participants were randomly assigned to a positive or neutral memory task condition. They participated in four weekly experimental sessions facilitated by an experimenter virtually; each consecutive session was separated by 6-8 days. We conducted mixed between-within subjects ANOVAs to examine study hypotheses. RESULTS: No interaction effects were significant. There were significant main effects of time on PTSS and depression severity, posttrauma cognitions, positively-valenced and negatively-valenced affect, and negative affect interference. LIMITATIONS: We used self-report measures, small and non-clinical sample with limited demographic diversity, and virtual format; did not record memory narratives; and did not have a trauma memory condition. CONCLUSIONS: Based on pilot data, our findings suggest that individuals who retrieve positive or neutral memories repeatedly may report less PTSS and depression severity, fewer posttrauma cognitions, and improved affect. Results provide an impetus to examine impacts of and mechanisms underlying memory interventions (beyond a sole focus on negatively-valenced memories) in trauma work.

Positive Affect Processes and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: Findings from an Open Label and Uncontrolled Pilot Study using the Positive Memory Processing Technique.

Recently, a five-session Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) was proposed as a novel intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One purported outcome of and mechanism underlying PPMT's effects on PTSD is improved positive affect processes. In this uncontrolled pilot study, we examined whether PPMT was associated with decreases in PTSD severity; and whether changes in positive affect levels, reactivity, and dysregulation related to changes in PTSD severity across sessions. The sample included 16 trauma-exposed participants seeking services at a University Psychology Clinic (Mage=27.44 years; 68.80% women). Multilevel linear growth models examined the main effects of each positive affect variable and their interactions with time on PTSD severity. PTSD severity decreased across PPMT treatment in each model (bs=-0.43 to -0.33; d=-0.03; ps<.001-0.008). There was a main effect of positive emotion dysregulation (b=1.16, d=0.11; p=0.009), but not of positive affect levels (p=0.821) or reactivity (p=0.356) on PTSD severity. However, positive affect processes did not modify the trajectory of PTSD severity across treatment. Regarding PTSD symptom clusters, there was an interaction between positive affect levels and time on alterations in arousal and reactivity (AAR) cluster severity (b=-0.01, p=0.036); individuals with positive affect levels 1 SD above the mean (b=-0.18, p<0.01) and at the mean (b=-0.10, p=0.01) had greater decreases in AAR cluster severity across treatment compared to individuals with positive affect levels 1 SD below the mean (b=-0.02, p=0.710). Findings suggest that PPMT may relate to improved PTSD symptoms; and that positive affect levels/dysregulation may be worthwhile targets for future investigations.

Daily Sleep-Stress Reactivity and Functional Impairment in World Trade Center Responders.

BACKGROUND: How sleep is impacted by stress ("sleep reactivity to stress") and how stress is impacted by sleep ("stress reactivity to sleep") are trait-like characteristics of individuals that predict depression, anxiety, and insomnia. However, pathways between reactivity and functional impairment (e.g., impairment in social relationships and interpersonal functioning) have not been explored, which may be a critical pathway in understanding the link between reactivity and the development of psychological disorders. PURPOSE: We examined associations between reactivity and changes in functional impairment among a cohort of 9/11 World Trade Center responders. METHODS: Data from 452 responders (Mage = 55.22 years; 89.4% male) were collected between 2014 and 2016. Four baseline sleep and stress reactivity indices (i.e., sleep duration and efficiency reactivity to stress; stress reactivity to sleep duration and efficiency) were calculated from 14 days of sleep and stress data using random slopes from multilevel models. Functional impairment was assessed approximately 1 year and 2 years after baseline via semi-structured interviews. Latent change score analyses examined associations between baseline reactivity indices and changes in functional impairment. RESULTS: Greater baseline sleep efficiency reactivity to stress was associated with decreases in functioning (ß = -0.05, p = .039). In addition, greater stress reactivity to sleep duration (ß = -0.08, p = .017) and sleep efficiency (ß = -0.22, p < .001) was associated with lower functioning at timepoint one. CONCLUSION: People who are more reactive to daily fluctuations in stress and sleep have poorer interpersonal relationships and social functioning. Identifying individuals with high reactivity who could benefit from preventative treatment may foster better social integration.

How sleep is impacted by stress ("sleep reactivity to stress") and how stress is impacted by sleep ("stress reactivity to sleep") are trait-like characteristics of individuals that may contribute to an individual's risk of developing of psychological disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. It is possible that individuals with high sleep-stress reactivity are more likely to experience long-term functional impairment (e.g., impairment in social relationships and interpersonal functioning)­a predisposing factor for psychological disorders, yet this pathway has not been explored. Therefore, we examined associations between sleep-stress reactivity and changes in functional impairment across a 1-year period in a large sample of 9/11 World Trade Center responders. The study results suggest that 9/11 World Trade Center responders who are more reactive to daily fluctuations in stress and sleep have poorer interpersonal relationships and social functioning. Identifying individuals with high sleep-stress reactivity who could benefit from preventative treatment may foster better social integration.

Associations between positive memory count and hazardous substance use in a trauma-exposed sample: Examining the moderating role of emotion dysregulation.

OBJECTIVES: Research has demonstrated links between autobiographical memory retrieval and hazardous substance use. However, limited work has examined relations between positive autobiographical memories and hazardous substance use, as well as moderating factors influencing these relations. Thus, we examined the potential moderating roles of negative and positive emotion dysregulation in the relations between count of retrieved positive memories and hazardous substance use (alcohol and drug use separately). METHODS: Participants were 333 trauma-exposed students (Mage = 21.05; 85.9% women) who completed self-report measures assessing positive memory count, hazardous alcohol and drug use, negative emotion dysregulation, and positive emotion dysregulation. RESULTS: Positive emotion dysregulation significantly moderated the association between positive memory count and hazardous alcohol use (b = 0.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.01, 0.06], p = 0.019), as well as the association between positive memory count and hazardous drug use (b = 0.02, 95% CI [0.01, 0.03], p = 0.002). Individuals with more positive emotion dysregulation had stronger associations between increases in positive memory count and increased hazardous substance use. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that trauma-exposed individuals who retrieve more positive memories and experience difficulties regulating positive emotions report greater hazardous substance use. Positive emotion dysregulation may be an important target for memory-based interventions among trauma-exposed individuals who report hazardous substance use.

Sleep disturbances and depression are bidirectionally associated among college student athletes across COVID-19 pandemic exposure classes.

College athletes may be vulnerable to sleep disturbances and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of large shifts in social and athletic obligations. In a national sample of college athletes, we examined the associations between sleep disturbances and depression across two timepoints, using COVID-19 exposure as a moderator. Data were collected from 2098 NCAA Division I, II, and III college athletes during two timepoints, from April 10 to May 23, and from August 4 to September 15, 2020. First, a latent class analysis was conducted with five indicators of levels of COVID-19 exposure to determine different exposure profiles. Second, to examine the directionality of associations between sleep disturbance and depression, a cross-lagged panel model was added to the latent class membership structural equation model; this allowed for testing of moderation by COVID exposure class membership. Four highly homogeneous, well-separated classes of COVID-19 exposure were enumerated: Low Exposure (57%); Quarantine Only (21%); High Other, Low Self Exposure (14%); and High Exposure (8%). COVID-19 exposure class membership did not significantly moderate associations between sleep disturbances and depression. However, student athletes significantly differed in T2 depression by their COVID-19 exposure class membership. Depression and sleep disturbances were positively correlated at both timepoints (r T1 = 0.39; r T2 = 0.30). Additionally, cross-lagged associations were found such that T2 depression was associated with T1 sleep disturbances (ß = 0.14) and vice versa (ß = 0.11). These cross-lagged associations were not significantly affected by athletes' level of COVID-19 exposure during the beginning of the pandemic.

The Role of Emotion Dysregulation in the Relationship Between Sleep Disturbances and PTSD Symptom Severity.

ABSTRACT: Emotion dysregulation is implicated in the development, maintenance, and treatment of sleep disturbances and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) separately. However, few studies have assessed interactions among these variables. To address this gap, this study examined whether the associations of sleep quality and sleep quantity with PTSD severity were stronger at higher levels of negative and positive emotion dysregulation in a community sample of 199 trauma-exposed individuals. This study found that both poorer sleep quality and lower sleep quantity were associated with greater PTSD severity at low to average (but not high) levels of negative emotion dysregulation. Positive emotion dysregulation did not moderate the relationships between sleep quality or quantity and PTSD severity. Exploratory additive multiple moderation analyses showed significant associations between poorer sleep quality and lower sleep quantity with greater PTSD severity at low to average levels of negative emotion dysregulation, coupled with any level of positive emotion dysregulation. Findings inform theoretical perspectives on the sleep-PTSD relationship and clinical applications of targeting emotion dysregulation in the treatment of sleep disturbances and PTSD symptoms for trauma-exposed individuals.

Investigating sleep, stress, and mood dynamics via temporal network analysis.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Prior research has emphasized the bidirectional relationships between sleep, stress, and affective states, such as depression. Given the inherent variability and fluctuations associated with sleep, assessing how sleep and affective variables function within a dynamic system may help further uncover possible causes and consequences of sleep disturbances, as well as find candidate targets for intervention. To this end, we examined dynamic relationships between self-reported stress, depressed mood, and clinically-relevant sleep parameters via temporal network analysis. METHODS: Participants were 401 nurses (92% female, 78% White, Mage = 39.47 years) who completed 14 days of sleep diaries incorporating self-reported stress and depression, as well as total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, and wake after sleep onset. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Overall, total sleep time emerged as a highly influential variable in the context of "outstrength centrality," meaning total sleep time had numerous outward connections with other variables (e.g., stress and sleep efficiency). The high outstrength centrality of total sleep time suggests this variable is a source of activation within this dynamic system. Conversely, stress showed high "instrength centrality," suggesting this variable was highly impacted by other variables in the system, such as depressed mood and sleep efficiency. These findings emphasize the importance of assessing unfolding sleep processes within a naturalistic setting, and implicate the role of total sleep time in fueling depressed mood and stress. Discussion emphasizes implications of these results for understanding the connections between sleep, stress, and depression as well as clinical relevance of these findings.

The role of positive affect processes in the association between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and sleep: A multi-study design.

OBJECTIVES: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms have been linked to sleep disturbances. Limited work has explored how positive affect processes may account for this relationship. Advancing research in this area, we utilized a multi-study design to investigate the role of positive affect processes (levels of positive affect, positive emotionality, hedonic deficits, negative affect interference) in the PTSD-sleep association. METHODS: Data from 149 trauma-exposed firefighters (Mage = 38.93 ± 9.65, 5.40 % women) were collected between September 2021 and November 2021, and data from 119 trauma-exposed community members (Mage = 29.60 ± 8.67, 68.10 % women) were collected between February 2021 and December 2021. Participants completed an online survey on PTSD symptoms, sleep disturbances, and positive affect processes. RESULTS: Positive affect levels (b = 0.03, 95 % confidence interval [CI] [0.01, 0.06]; firefighter sample), positive emotionality (b = 0.07, CI [0.03, 0.13]; community sample), and negative affect interference (b = 0.06, CI [0.01, 0.14]; community sample) significantly accounted for the associations between PTSD symptom severity and sleep disturbances controlling for the effects of gender and age. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the role of positive affect processes in the link between PTSD and sleep, and support addressing positive affect processes as potential targets in clinical interventions for co-occurring PTSD-sleep problems.