Sleep Go Away, I Don’t Have Much Time Left to Live: Is Bedtime Procrastination Related to Perceived Time Left in Life?

Abstract

Objective:Sleep insufficiency is a common public health problem associated with various psychological and physical health outcomes. A recently proposed cause for sleep insufficiency is bedtime procrastination. Despite existing research about the concept, its underlying factors are mostly unclear. Considering the theoretical analogy between sleep time and the end of the day, the current study presents an explanation for bedtime procrastination. This study aims to examine the effect of future time perspective on bedtime procrastination and test the mediator role of purpose in life in this association.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted with 317 participants. Each participant completed the measures of bedtime procrastination, future time perspective, purpose in life, self-control, circadian energy, and sleep quality.Results:The analyses revealed that higher future time perspectives predicted lower bedtime procrastination; and purpose in life fully mediated the association. This effect remained significant after controlling the effects of self-control and circadian energy.Conclusion:The results indicate that when people believe they have enough time in their life, they tend to procrastinate their bedtime less because they have a purpose for their future and focus less on momentary gains.

Keywords

• bedtime procrastination
• future time perspective
• purpose in life
• sleep
• sleep time