The Effects of a Consistent Sleep Schedule on Time Taken to Achieve Sleep

Abstract

In this study the authors evaluated how a consistent sleep schedule would result in the participant’s being able to demonstrate a shorter latency between retiring for bed and sleep. A 44-year-old female went to bed within the same 15-minute time period at night and arose within the same 15-minute time period in the morning. A single-subject reversal design was used. During treatment, the average latency between going to bed and sleeping was 46 minutes (111 minutes before treatment), with the last 5 nights averaging 9 minutes of latency. The participant established consistency in her bedtime schedule by going to bed at the same time every night and by arising in the morning at the same time. This intervention resulted in the participant’s demonstrating a shorter latency between the onset of bedtime and going to sleep. This intervention and measuring procedure was used with little expense to the participant and yet captured the behavior change intended.