People with this personality trait are more likely to suffer insomnia
Depending on whether you have a sunny outlook on life, or an altogether rather bleak one, most of us fall into one of two categories - being classed either as an optimist or a pessimist — but did you know that having one one of these personality traits could indicate whether you're more likely to suffer from a sleep disorder?
According to new research from Medical University of Vienna, if you tend to look on the bright side of life, you probably get achieve a good night's sleep on a regular basis, and if your cup is always half empty, you're more likely to suffer from insomnia.
The study, which surveyed over 1,000 people from Austria, examined how things like their personality traits, lifestyle behaviours and sleeping patterns were all connected, and concluded that participants who tended to have an optimistic view of life were approximately 70% less likely to suffer from insomnia, or any other sleep-related disorder.
Previous research has suggested that being optimistic could be a contributing factor to having good health - due to being generally more active, smoking and drinking less and eating a healthier diet - but this is the the first of it's kind to indicate that positive thoughts have a tangible effect on sleeping patterns.
Jakob Weitzer, head researcher of the study, explains that 'on top of that, they have better strategies for coping with problems and experience less stress in challenging situations. All these factors could contribute to better quality sleep.'
Lack of quality sleep over time has been proven to have a detrimental effect on physical and mental health, with people who suffer from insomnia '10 times as likely to have clinical depression and 17 times as likely to have clinical anxiety,' than those who sleep normally, according to Sleep Foundation.
However, Web MD states that one of the most common signs of depression is insomnia or an inability to fall and stay asleep, leaving no doubt that mental health, negative thoughts and healthy sleep patterns are inextricably linked.
So, if you're a natural pessimist, does that mean you have to resign yourself to a life of sleep deprivation and ill-health? Not necessarily, according to Weitzer's team, who think it is wholly possible to train yourself to think more positively, using a method called 'Best Possible Self.'
'This involves trying to imagine an ideal and writing down how one's best possible life could look in the future,' says Weitzer. 'After several weeks of regular practice, it can help to increase an individual's level of optimism.”
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