Mindfulness is Associated with Better Sleep Quality in Young Adults by Reducing Boredom and Bedtime Procrastination

Behav Sleep Med. 2023 Jan-Feb;21(1):61-71. doi: 10.1080/15402002.2022.2035729. Epub 2022 Jan 31.

Abstract

Objective: Bedtime procrastination is a relatively new topic of research and has been found to compromise sleep. Researchers have studied the predictors, but only a few studies have focused on the ways to reduce bedtime procrastination. Mindfulness, a novel variable in this research area, may shed some light on how to decrease bedtime procrastination. This study examined a serial mediation model and hypothesized that the relationship between mindfulness and better sleep quality would be serially mediated by lower levels of boredom and bedtime procrastination.

Methods: This study employed a correlational approach and recruited a sample of 220 participants aged between 17 and 30 (M = 20.34 years, SD = 2.86). In the Qualtrics online survey, participants completed a series of questionnaires measuring mindfulness, boredom, bedtime procrastination, and sleep quality.

Results: The analyses provided support for our serial mediation model. Mindfulness predicted a lower level of boredom, which in turn predicted a lower level of bedtime procrastination and subsequently better sleep quality.

Conclusion: Our findings highlighted the role of mindfulness in curbing bedtime procrastination, setting a foundation for future research on the interventions for sleep issues associated with bedtime procrastination. We discussed the theoretical and practical implications of the findings.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Boredom
  • Humans
  • Mindfulness*
  • Procrastination*
  • Sleep
  • Sleep Quality
  • Young Adult