Suicide Ideation & Sleep Quality

Abstract

Suicide Ideation & Sleep Quality

Sleep disturbances were found to be associated with suicidal idealization (Benert & Joiner, 2007). Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a significant role in sleep regulation and has been identified to be relevant in studies of suicide as well. Serotonin is released when individuals wake up, reduced during sleep, and lowest during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep (Benneditti, Serettti et al, 1999). Hypothesis: Less time on screens before falling asleep will have better sleep quality and higher self esteem. Lower chances of committing suicide. Methods: All participants took a pretest during the informational session and a post test during the debriefing session. The pretest and posttest were contrived of demographic and sleep pattern questions. Both assessments were exactly the same. All participants filled out wake up diaries that contained scales in which they had to rate the quality of their sleep from 1 (poor sleep) to 10 (good sleep). These were filled out for seven days immediately after waking up. Control group= No manipulations Experimental group= 30 minutes without smart screen technology + filling out sleep diaries Sleeping diaries did not include any questions or structure. Participants were encouraged to record whatever was on their minds/how they felt about their days. Conclusion: Increase in negative emotions between day 3 and day 6 of the experiment.

- Statistical significance was measured (chi square=15.276**, df=1).

- “I miss my phone” and “I don’t know how I am going to do this” appeared several

times.

- “Nomophobia” is a fear of being unable to communicate through a cellular device or the internet. Future Implications: There is no concrete definition of what “good sleep” is. Participants had different definitions as to what they constituted as “good sleep” For example, good sleep is being able to sleep without any disturbances for eight or more hours. Another definition of good sleep could reiterate the amount of alertness one feels after waking up. Further analysis questions can be made in order to establish a definition.