Madeleine Salvatore

Adam Padgett
ENGL 102
11/15/2016
A Look at the Reasons Behind Insomniac Behavior
Through extensive research, it has been proven that sleep plays a direct and vital
role in a persons physical and mental well-being. There are multiple factors that can
play in to the inability to sleep at night. Among these reasons are anxieties and worries,
as well as daytime naps. Frequent, long naps result in the inability to sleep at night.
THIS NEEDS TO BE LONGER.
In a study by Michelle Clementi (SITE THIS SOURCE), the relationship
between sleep and anxiety was measured. It was found that if one category is struggling,
the other will suffer as well. A correlation between sleep and well-being evident.
Clementi also noted the importance in the type of day a person has had on the ability to
sleep at night. The type of day reflects the amount of time spent awake at night, and less
time spent sleeping predicted less positive affect the following day. A bad day will most
likely lead to poorer quality of sleep due to thoughts consuming the mind, which are
more than likely tied to anxieties and stresses.
A correlation between anxiety and other related disorders in sleep disturbance
have also been found. Sleep was assessed and then grouped into categories of objective
and subjective sleep. (DEFINE THESE TERMS HERE) The parameters surrounding
the study included the total sleep time, how long it takes a person to fall asleep, and the
amount of time a person is asleep and awake while in bed. Sleep disturbance behavior

was found in people who suffer from anxiety or other related conditions (OCD, phobias,
PTSD, and Social Anxiety Disorder).
Peterman, Carper, and Kendall also found a relationship between anxiety/related
disorders and the inability to sleep at night. The study also noted the importance of sleep
in the developmental stages on youth. Insufficient sleep is considered less than 8 hours
of sleep at night, and 45% suffer from this. The contributing authors then went on to
describe the developmental changes in sleep, referencing ages from birth until 2, age 4 to
7, and the high school ages. Especially in ones older youth, sleep is vital as deprivation
can interfere with the higher cognitive functioning necessary for academic performance,
including impulse control/behavioral inhibition, memory, and mood regulation. (IN
DEPTH ANALYSIS OF THIS QUOTE TO FINISH OFF)