The relationship between academic stress and lack of sleep and their relation to the (in)ability of emotional regulation

Znano je, da so zaznani stres, spanje in čustvena regulacija medsebojno povezani konstrukti – stresne okoliščine poslabšajo kakovost in zmanjšajo količino spanja, pomanjkanje le-tega vodi v pogostejšo uporabo nekonstruktivnih strategij čustvene regulacijev splošnem pa vse omenjeno zmanjšuje kakovost vsakodnevnega življenja zaradi utrujenosti in morebitnega pojava depresivno-anksioznih simptomov. Namen raziskave je bil preučiti, kakšna je povezava med količino in kakovostjo spanja ter zmožnostjo uporabe strategij čustvene regulacije kot odgovor na stresne dražljaje iz okolja. 30 študentov (96,70 % žensk) je trikrat – pred in med izpitnim obdobjem ter po njem – odgovorilo na sklop vprašanj, pri čemer smo za splošno oceno kakovosti in količine spanja uporabili Pittsburški vprašalnik kakovosti spanja (PSQI), za oceno uporabe različnih strategij čustvene regulacije Vprašalnik kognitivne emocionalne regulacije (CERQ) ter za oceno zaznanega stresa Lestvico zaznanega stresa (PSS). Ob prvem merjenju nas je zanimal tudi pojav depresivno-anksioznih simptomov, kar smo preverjali z Vprašalnikom depresije, anksioznosti in stresa (DASS-21), kronotip, za kar smo uporabili Vprašalnik jutranjosti – večernosti (MEQ), in higiena spanja, merjena z Indeksom higiene spanja (SHI). Glavna ugotovitev naše raziskave je, da je kakovost spanja negativno povezana s pogostostjo uporabe nekonstruktivnih strategij čustvene regulacije ter da je spanje v stresnih situacijah krajše in manj kakovostno. Dodatno smo ugotovili tudi, da trendi nakazujejo povečano ruminacijo, katastrofiziranje, obtoževanje drugih in samoobtoževanje v stresnih situacijah. S kakovostjo spanja in zaznanim stresom je povezan tudi kronotip, in sicer posamezniki z večernim kronotipom poročajo o več zaznanega stresa in slabši kakovosti spanja kot jutranji kronotipi. Potrdili pa smo tudi dosedaj že znane navedbe, da higiena spanja pozitivno napoveduje njegovo kakovost. Navedene ugotovitve so lahko, kljub manku statistične pomembnosti, izhodišče za nadaljnje raziskovanje področja spanja in čustvene regulacije, še posebej v povezavi z akademskimi in delovnimi obremenitvami posameznikov. Izsledki naše raziskave potrjujejo, da zaznani stres neugodno vpliva na spanje in duševno zdravje študentov, zato želimo spodbuditi tudi nastanek smernic in predpisov, ki bi pripomogli k njihovi razbremenitvi, izboljšanju kakovosti spanja in konstuktivnejšemu spopadanju s stresnimi situacijami.Perceived stress, sleep and emotional regulation are known to be interrelated constructs. Stressful circumstances impair the quality and reduce the quantity of sleep, and sleep deprivation leads to increased use of non-constructive strategies of emotional regulation, and, in general, all the aforementioned factors decrease the quality of everyday life due to fatigue and potential onset of symptoms of depression and anxiety. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the quantity and quality of sleep and the ability to use strategies of emotional regulation in response to stressful environmental stimuli. 30 students (96.70% female) answered the same set of questions three times, namely before, during and after the exam period. For this purpose, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess overall quality and quantity of sleep, the Cognitive Emotional regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) was used to assess the use of different strategies of emotional regulation, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to assess perceived stress. During the first assessment, special attention was given to the occurrence of symptoms of depression and anxiety, the chronotype, and sleep hygiene. The occurrence of symptoms of depression and anxiety was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the chronotype was assessed using the Morning-Evening Questionnaire (MEQ), and finally sleep hygiene was measured by the Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI). The most important finding of the study is that sleep quality is negatively correlated with the frequency of non-constructive emotional regulation strategies and that sleep is shorter and of lower quality in stressful situations. Additionally, the study found that trends indicate increase in rumination, catastrophising, blaming of others and self-blame in stressful situations. Chronotype is also related to sleep quality and perceived stress, with individuals with the evening chronotype reporting more perceived stress and poorer sleep quality than morning chronotypes. The study also confirmed the already known fact that sleep hygiene positively predicts sleep quality. These findings, despite their lack of statistical significance, may provide a starting point for further research on sleep and emotional regulation, particularly in relation to individuals\u27 academic and work pressures. The results of the study confirm that perceived stress has an adverse impact on students\u27 sleep and mental health. As such, the development of guidelines and regulations to help relieve stress, improve sleep quality and help students cope more constructively with stressful situations is highly encouraged