Moving from traits to states: Examining the bidirectional day-level associations between personality states and sleep characteristics

Abstract

Big-5 personality traits are robustly associated with sleep. Most theorizing points to day-level bidirectional processes; however, few studies have examined associations between personality traits and sleep at the day-level. To do so, we combined ecological momentary data from four samples (total sample size: 1,212 participants with 9,536 days of assessments) to conduct dynamic structural equation models examining bidirectional associations between personality states and sleep characteristics. Results supported bidirectional associations between personality states and sleep, though sleep influencing daily personality expression may be the more dominant force than personality states influencing nightly sleep. State neuroticism and conscientiousness were most closely connected to sleep, while the sleep characteristics of subjective sleep quality and daytime tiredness predicted all daytime personality states. Altogether, these findings elucidate day-level associations between sleep and personality traits that have been theorized as key processes that underpin trait-level associations.

Plain language summary

Personality traits have been routinely linked to sleep patterns. However, few studies have examined how day-to-day expressions of personality are related to nightly sleep. We combined data from four samples (total sample size: 1,212 participants with 9,536 days of assessments) to analyze how daily personality states and nightly sleep characteristics may reciprocally influence each other. Results supported reciprocal associations between personality states and sleep, though sleep influencing daily personality expression may be the more dominant force than personality states influencing nightly sleep. Neuroticism and conscientiousness were the personality states most closely connected to sleep, while the sleep characteristics of subjective sleep quality and daytime tiredness predicted all daytime personality states.

Keywords

personality sleep traits individual differences ecological momentary assessment

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