Relationship between trait-anger and sleep disturbances in middle-aged men and women

Abstract 

Objective

The present study was performed to determine whether high levels of trait-anger (T-Anger) are independently associated with sleep disturbances and quantitative and qualitative measurements of sleep in middle-aged adults.

Methods

Enrolled in the study were 2404 men and 2291 women derived from the Korean Health and Genome Study (KHGS), which is an ongoing population-based prospective study. The Spielberger Trait Anger Scale was used to measure T-Anger.

Results

Sleep disturbances, including difficulty in initiating and maintaining sleep (DIS and DMS, respectively) and early morning awakening (EMA), significantly increased with increasing levels of T-Anger (P<.05 by test for trend). Nonrestorative feelings in the morning and excessive daytime sleepiness were also strongly associated with higher levels of T-Anger. After adjusting for other potential risk factors, the high and/or moderate T-Anger showed 40% to 70% increases in the odds for sleep disturbances.

Conclusion

The present study provides evidence that high levels of T-Anger are independently associated with symptoms of disturbed sleep in middle-aged adult population.

Keywords: Anger, Sleep, Sleep disturbance, Trait-anger