MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

7 Things You Should Never Do If You Need to Fall Back Asleep Fast

7 Things You Should Never Do If You Need to Fall Back Asleep Fast

Method Man Shares The Workout He Used To Smash Insomnia

Method Man Shares The Workout He Used To Smash Insomnia

Nappers Vs Non-Nappers: Here's Who Is Better Off

Nappers Vs Non-Nappers: Here's Who Is Better Off

5 Ways to Sleep Better Every Night

5 Ways to Sleep Better Every Night

{headline}

{headline}

How To Beat Jet Lag

How To Beat Jet Lag

Everything You Need To Know About ASMR

Everything You Need To Know About ASMR

5 Ways To Fix Your Snoring (And Help Your Partner Sleep Better)

5 Ways To Fix Your Snoring (And Help Your Partner Sleep Better)

{headline}

{headline}

Just Four Nights Of Poor Sleep Can Make You Fat, Study Finds

Just Four Nights Of Poor Sleep Can Make You Fat, Study Finds

How To Fall Asleep According To A Sleep Expert

How To Fall Asleep According To A Sleep Expert

This Night Time Activity Could Be Responsible For Your Sugar Cravings

This Night Time Activity Could Be Responsible For Your Sugar Cravings

New Study Reveals The Secret To Curbing Cravings For Sweet and Salty Food

New Study Reveals The Secret To Curbing Cravings For Sweet and Salty Food

Study Says You Should Wear This To Bed For A Better Night's Sleep

Study Says You Should Wear This To Bed For A Better Night's Sleep

3 Daily Habits We Can Take From Cavemen

3 Daily Habits We Can Take From Cavemen

Naps Are Good For Your Health, According To Science

Naps Are Good For Your Health, According To Science

  1. Home
  2. Health

Struggling With Sleep? It Might Be Your Personality

And it's not just due to anxiety - by Alex Pierotti
  • 22 Jan 2019
Struggling With Sleep? It Might Be Your Personality

Is there anything worse than a bad night's sleep? Just because you've set aside eight hours to catch up on shut-eye, doesn't necessarily mean you'll doze off straight away. While it's no secret that mood or anxiety might play a part in a restless night, a new study has shed light on how your personality might affect your evening.

According to a new paper published in Lancet Psychiatryonly, further evidence suggests that insomnia is link to certain personality traits, with many linked to negative moods. 

RELATED: Does Working Out At Night Affect Your Sleep?

Analysing, 2224 patients suffering from insomnia between 2010 and 2016, a team of researchers from Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience found a link between insomnia and five personality types. 

The five different personalities are:

  • “Highly distressed” - people who are wired or anxious before bedtime while also prone to depression. 
  • “Moderately distressed, reward sensitive” - again, they're wired before sleep, but aren't necessarily always having negative thoughts. They reported higher than average levels of insomnia due to stress 
  • “Moderately distressed, reward insensitive” - unlike the second personality type, these people tend to be unhappy or pessimistic. Although, often in a negative mood, these personalities aren't as likely to have diagnosed depression as type 2. 
  • “Slightly distressed, high reactivity” - This personality is like to have insomnia because of life events - financial or relationship difficulties. Their troubles with insomnia also tend to last longer. 
  • “Slightly distressed, low reactivity”  - like type 4, this personality struggles because of life events, but they don't necessarily feel the effects as heavily. More likely to be diagnosed later in life and show high levels of demotivation. 

According to sleep specialist Rafael Pelayo from the Stanford Sleep Medicine Centre, this is what researchers have believed for years. 

“People sleep best in states of serenity,” says Pelayo speaking to Health.com.

RELATED: Why You Suck At Sleeping

“You sleep best when you feel safe, comfortable, and loved.”

Pelayo suggests that when you go to bed in a restless state, your body will stay awake, waiting for the troubles to pass.

“It goes into a mode of sleeping where it sleeps in spurts and gets as little sleep as possible,” Dr. Pelayo continues. “And that’s what insomnia is—it’s this kind of survival mode of sleeping.”

It's similar with perfectionists. Often, they're brains won't rest with any problems unsolved. 

RELATED: The 5 Biggest Health Benefits Of Sleeping Naked

“People who are perfectionists or have obsessive-compulsive disorder tend toward insomnia because they try to fix things, and you only fix things by staying awake,” he adds. “[Insomnia] can be a thinker's condition.”

If you are struggling with shut-eye at night, it's important to address the problem. Insomnia is treatable, so check-in with your GP who can refer you to a sleep specialist. Who doesn't deserve eight hours a night?

Alex Pierotti
Alex Pierotti
Alex Pierotti is the Digital Content Editor for Men's Health Australia, with experience reporting on health, fitness and sport. With a Journalism degree from UNSW under his belt, he got his start working in TV, working on the live broadcast of the Intrust Super Shute Shield on 7TWO before making the switch to print and digital at Pacific Magazines.

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

7 Things You Should Never Do If You Need to Fall Back Asleep Fast

7 Things You Should Never Do If You Need to Fall Back Asleep Fast

Method Man Shares The Workout He Used To Smash Insomnia

Method Man Shares The Workout He Used To Smash Insomnia

Nappers Vs Non-Nappers: Here's Who Is Better Off

Nappers Vs Non-Nappers: Here's Who Is Better Off

5 Ways to Sleep Better Every Night

5 Ways to Sleep Better Every Night

{headline}

{headline}

How To Beat Jet Lag

How To Beat Jet Lag

Everything You Need To Know About ASMR

Everything You Need To Know About ASMR

5 Ways To Fix Your Snoring (And Help Your Partner Sleep Better)

5 Ways To Fix Your Snoring (And Help Your Partner Sleep Better)

{headline}

{headline}

Just Four Nights Of Poor Sleep Can Make You Fat, Study Finds

Just Four Nights Of Poor Sleep Can Make You Fat, Study Finds

How To Fall Asleep According To A Sleep Expert

How To Fall Asleep According To A Sleep Expert

This Night Time Activity Could Be Responsible For Your Sugar Cravings

This Night Time Activity Could Be Responsible For Your Sugar Cravings

New Study Reveals The Secret To Curbing Cravings For Sweet and Salty Food

New Study Reveals The Secret To Curbing Cravings For Sweet and Salty Food

Study Says You Should Wear This To Bed For A Better Night's Sleep

Study Says You Should Wear This To Bed For A Better Night's Sleep

3 Daily Habits We Can Take From Cavemen

3 Daily Habits We Can Take From Cavemen

Naps Are Good For Your Health, According To Science

Naps Are Good For Your Health, According To Science

MensHealth
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Chris Hemsworth Hugo Boss
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Chris Hemsworth Hugo Boss
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Women's Health

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Men's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now