EXPLORING INSOMNIA SYMPTOMS IN ADULTS: A NETWORK ANALYSIS

Abstract

Insomnia is a sleep disorder associated frequently with physical and emotional health problems. Evidence suggests that it is a recurrent problem in adults in the general population, identifying fewer hours of sleep and poor sleep quality. Objective. To analyze the association of insomnia symptoms and identify core symptoms in Peruvian adults from the general population. Method. The sample consisted of 351 adults (53% men) who responded to the Athens Insomnia Scale. A regularized partial correlation network model was estimated. Results. Sleep duration, overall quality, and sleep malaise for problems were the most central symptoms in the network. The strongest conditional associations emerged between duration and sleep quality, malaise for problems sleep and interference with daily functioning. The network structure was accurate and stable (CS = .749). Conclusions. Sleep duration, overall quality, and sleep malaise for problems are relevant symptoms for understanding insomnia in adults of general population. Addressing those symptoms from cognitive behavioral therapy could improve anticipated awakenings, sleep initiation difficulties and sleepiness.