Summary: Naturally optimistic people have a 70% lower chance of suffering from sleep disorders and insomnia, a new study reports.
Source: Medical University of Vienna
Optimists live longer than pessimists and have a lower risk of chronic disease—this has been scientifically validated on multiple occasions. A reason for optimists having longer and healthier lives could be that they sleep better: this is the central finding of a recent study led by Jakob Weitzer and Eva Schernhammer from the Medical University of Vienna’s Division of Epidemiology, which has now been published in the Journal of Sleep Research. The two sleep researchers Stefan Seidel and Gerhard Klösch (Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna) were also involved in this study.
By analyzing the data of a 2017 online survey about general sleep characteristics and other factors such as people’s work situation and behaviors prior to going to bed, in which 1,004 Austrians participated, the MedUni Vienna epidemiologists found that the probability of suffering from sleep disorders and/or insomnia was around 70% lower among optimistic participants than it was among those who tended towards pessimism. “Other studies have shown that optimists take more exercise, smoke less and eat a healthier diet. On top of that, they have better strategies for coping with problems and experience less stress in challenging situations. All these factors could contribute to better quality sleep,” says Weitzer, summing up the current status of the research.
“Training” optimism
The study authors point out that optimism can be cultivated by means of various exercises. One of these exercises is the so-called “Best Possible Self” method. Says Weitzer: “This involves trying to imagine an ideal and writing down how one’s best possible life could look in the future. After several weeks of regular practice, it can help to increase an individual’s level of optimism.” This is not so much about achieving this ‘ideal’ but more about reflecting on it generally to help set realistic goals for an optimistic future.
However, it is not yet certain whether the increase in optimism achieved in these exercises can promote better sleep and better health, Weitzer emphasizes. Should this prove to be the case (and this would have to be investigated in further studies), ‘optimism training’ might reduce the prevalence of sleep disorders and other health problems in the population.
About this psychology research article
Source:
Medical University of Vienna
Media Contacts:
Press Office – Medical University of Vienna
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Original Research: Open access
“The contribution of dispositional optimism to understanding insomnia symptomatology: Findings from a cross‐sectional population study in Austria” by Jakob Weitzer et al. Journal of Sleep Research
Abstract
The emerging spectrum of COVID-19 neurology: clinical, radiological and laboratory findings
Attitudes and expectations of people towards their lives are essential to future health outcomes. Growing evidence has linked dispositional optimism to beneficial health outcomes, such as exceptional longevity, healthy aging and better sleep quality. We describe the association between dispositional optimism and chronic insomnia, considering potential mediators, in the Austrian Sleep Survey (N = 1,004), a population‐based cross‐sectional study conducted in 2017. Optimism was measured using the validated Life Orientation Test‐Revised, and four different definitions were used to assess chronic insomnia. Three definitions were based on the criteria of chronic insomnia according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (3rd edn). Age‐ and multivariable‐adjusted logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Among Austrians who were more optimistic, chronic insomnia risk was lower compared with those less optimistic (middle versus bottom tertile of optimism score: OR = 0.39, 95% CI, 0.22–0.70; and top versus bottom tertile: OR = 0.28, 95% CI, 0.14–0.54; p‐trend < .001). Results were similar for all four definitions of insomnia, and differed slightly between men and women. Happiness, depression and health status confounded the association, whereas lifestyle did not. Promoting dispositional optimism could represent a simple and accessible strategy to improve sleep quality and lower insomnia risk, with downstream beneficial health effects. Further research is needed to clarify the prevention potential of interventions targeting this mental trait.
