Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8805-2125
Defense Date
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Natalie Dautovich
Second Advisor
Patricia Kinser
Third Advisor
Bruce Rybarczyk
Abstract
Interoceptive awareness, characterized by a non-judgmental and trusting attitude towards body sensations, is an understudied construct that is implicated in sleep and health outcomes. Interoceptive awareness is cultivated via contemplative and mindfulness-based practices. Given that it may be utilized to reduce pre-sleep arousal, which is a key mechanism in insomnia, interoceptive awareness is posited to be a protective factor for sleep health. A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate university students (N = 420) in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States to assess the association between interoceptive awareness and sleep outcomes. Participants received a survey link and completed a 45-minute online questionnaire via REDCap. Measures included the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness-2 (MAIA-2), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Pre-sleep Arousal Scale, RU-SATED, Insomnia Severity Index, and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Data were analyzed using hierarchical linear and logistic regressions. Interoceptive awareness predicted pre-sleep arousal, sleep health, sleep quality, and insomnia. The ‘not distracting’ factor, in particular, emerged as the strongest interoceptive predictor. When adjusting for covariates such as mood, not distracting significantly predicted pre-sleep arousal (b* = -0.13, p < .001) and sleep duration (b* = 0.14, p = .01). These findings indicate that not engaging in maladaptive distraction from pain and discomfort was associated with lower levels of disruptive heightened cognitive and physiological states before sleep and longer total sleep times. Interoceptive awareness explained global sleep (MAIA general: b* = -0.12, p = .016; not distracting: b* = -0.14, p = .008) and sleep health (MAIA general: b* = 0.12, p = .02) above and beyond mindfulness except when controlling for mood. Findings suggest that specific training in interoceptive capacities could be a valuable complement to interventions for sleep health and insomnia.
Rights
© Lara R. LoBrutto
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-8-2024