Sleep Leadership in High-Risk Occupations: An Investigation of Soldiers on Peacekeeping and Combat Missions

Individuals in high-risk occupations (e.g., military service) often report physical, psychological, and organizational problems. Although leaders can partially buffer their subordinates against these problems, the impact of established leadership skills appears limited, especially in high-risk occupations. Thus, building on recent theories of domain-specific leadership, we examined whether leadership focused on the specific domain of sleep might be negatively associated with some specific problems facing individuals in high-risk occupations, beyond their relationship with general leadership. Studying military personnel on peacekeeping and combat deployments, we predicted that “sleep leadership” would be negatively associated with sleep problems (physical), depressive symptoms (psychological), and negative climate (organizational), and that sleep would mediate the relationship between sleep leadership and the psychological and organizational problems. Results were generally supportive, contributing to theories of domain-specific leadership by showing that sleep-focused leader behaviors may go beyond general leadership behaviors, relating directly to the problems facing individuals in high-risk occupations.     

REM Sleep Bout Duration and Frequency in PTSD

The few pharmacological treatments shown to be effective in reducing sleep disturbance in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) might work through normalization of rapid eye movement (REM). However, evidence of REM sleep disturbance in PTSD has been inconsistent and the definition of REM bout has varied as well. In this study, we compared polysomnographic findings in adults with PTSD to both normal sleepers and insomniacs. We found no differences between those with and without PTSD on REM bout frequency or duration. We did, however, find gender differences within our PTSD sample as consistent with a previous review suggesting that males with PTSD are more likely to demonstrate REM sleep disturbance. Consensus on REM bout definition is needed, in addition to studies powered to detect gender differences.     

Sleep Deprivation and Dating Aggression Perpetration in Female College Students: The Moderating Roles of Trait Aggression,Victimization by Partner,and Alcohol Use

Dating aggression, whether it is physical or psychological, is a major social concern. The background-situational model is highly predictive of dating aggression, but it lacks consideration of biopsychosocial processes. Sleep was investigated as one such process. A sample of 108 university undergraduate women completed objective (actigraphy) and subjective measures of sleep quality as well as self-reports of dating and trait aggression. Indicators of sleep deprivation were associated with greater frequency of dating aggression perpetration. Associations were especially strong when trait aggression and victimization by the partner were higher. Contrary to hypotheses, alcohol consumption did not significantly moderate the relation between sleep and women’s aggression perpetration. Less sleep was associated with women’s more frequent aggression toward their partners, perhaps because sleep deprivation causes difficulties with emotion regulation.     

Dispositional mindfulness,insomnia, sleep quality and dysfunctional sleep beliefs in post-treatment cancer patients

Dispositional mindfulness, or the tendency to be more mindful in daily life, has been associated with better psychological functioning and reduced overall distress. This study investigated the degree to which dispositional mindfulness was associated with sleep disturbances in cancer patients with insomnia. Further, we examined whether levels of mindfulness moderated the relationship between stress levels, mood disturbance, insomnia severity, sleep quality and dysfunctional sleep beliefs. Participants (N = 111) were adults who had been previously treated for cancer and currently met diagnostic criteria for insomnia. Higher levels of acting with awareness, non-judging and non-reacting were associated with better sleep and psychological outcomes. Despite these significant associations, mindfulness facets did not significantly moderate the relationship between stress, mood and sleep outcomes. This negative finding raises the possibility that increased mindfulness may not act directly to improve psychological outcomes, but rather through a series of other cognitive and affective changes. Our results emphasize the importance of addressing mood symptoms and stress appraisals as predictors of sleep disturbance in cancer patients.     

Behandling av en ormfobi med fading

En fallstudie av en ormfobi presenteras. Behandlingen skedde med hjälp av fading som innebär att diabilder utnyttjas som stimulusmaterial. Före och efter behandlingen gjordes kontinuerliga mätningar av fobiskt beteende på alia tre responssystemen (overt motoriskt, kognitivt, fysiologiskt). Resultaten visade att de fobiska symtomen utsläcktes på alia tre systemen, dock till olika grad. I diskussionen konstateras att fading verkar vara ett alternativ till mera traditionella metoder vid behandling av smådjursfobier. Slutligen diskuterades begränsningar med studien vad gäller generalitet etc.     

黎明模拟光照对晨起睡眠惰性的影响

本研究采用单因素被试内设计对清晨唤醒后睡眠惰性对个体主观情绪、警觉性和认知加工的影响，以及利用动态黎明模拟光照能否对睡眠惰性产生有效的对抗作用进行了考察。结果发现：（1）被试的积极情绪、主观警觉性在刚唤醒时显著低于基线水平，之后随时间推移逐渐提升。（2）被试醒后立即进行测试的认知加工成绩最差，随后逐渐提高，且主要表现在加工速度的回升上。（3）黎明模拟光照对被试醒后在积极情绪、主观警觉性、持续性注意和抑制功能的缓解上产生了明显的促进作用。这表明睡眠惰性会对个体的主客观活动产生显著的负性影响，而使用黎明模拟光照可在一定程度上对抗睡眠惰性带来的负性影响。     

硕士生压力知觉、状态-特质焦虑、完美主义与睡眠质量的关系

对581名硕士生进行问卷调查,探索压力知觉、状态-特质焦虑、完美主义和睡眠质量之间的关系及作用机制。结果表明：（1）压力知觉可通过状态焦虑间接影响睡眠质量,但以直接影响为主。（2）特质焦虑通过压力知觉和状态焦虑间接影响睡眠质量。（3）非适应性完美主义可直接影响睡眠质量,适应性完美主义对睡眠质量没有直接影响,两者均通过特质焦虑、压力知觉和状态焦虑形成链状中介间接影响睡眠质量。     

睡眠剥夺对连续作业的影响

将18名青年被试随机分为三组,Sd21h、SD45h和SD69h,SD前后用内田—克莱佩林测试。结果为：(1)SD后组间比较,UK作业量、错误数、后期增减率各组之间有显著差异;订正数各组之间没有显著差异;(2)SD前后自身比较,各组UK总量、后一部分总量、错误数和后期增减率有显著差异;订正数无显著差异;SD21组前一部分总量有显著差异;而SD45和SD69组前一部分总量无显著差异。该结果表明,SD后警赏水平下降,在SD45小时后下降更为明显;UK测验中的后期增减率可较好地反映SD后警赏水平的变化。