The Relation of Neuroticism and Insecure Attachment to Insomnia: The Mediating Role of Perfectionism and Cognitive Emotion Regulation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of perfectionism and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies on the relationship between insecure attachment and neuroticism with insomnia. The study sample consisted of 381 female and male students of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences who were selected by cluster sampling. Participants answered the Insomnia Severity Index, NEO-Personality Inventory–Revised (NEO-FF-R), Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, attachment style questionnaire and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings indicated that the causal model had suitable fitness. According to the findings, neuroticism had a direct and indirect significant relationship with insomnia through the mediating role of maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, also insecure attachment directly correlated with insomnia, but indirect effect of this variable on insomnia through maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies was not significant. Both neuroticism and insecure attachment had indirect significant relationship with insomnia through the chained mediating effect of perfectionism and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies. The obtained results showed that interpersonal, personality and emotional–cognitive factors had important roles in explanation of insomnia. So their role should be considered in prevention and treatment programs.

Keywords

• cognitive emotion regulation
• insecure attachment
• insomnia
• neuroticism
• perfectionism