Relationship Between Sleep Habits, Adrenocortical Activity and Personality

Abstract

Psychologic stress is known to be associated with both sleep disturbances and increased adrenocortical activity. In this experiment, 2 groups of male medical students were selected as poor or good sleepers on the basis of their responses to a sleep questionnaire. The poor sleepers had significantly greater levels of adrenocortical activity than did the good sleepers throughout the day and night. This difference was related to psychologic characteristics. The general level of activation of the central nervous system, largely reflecting one's personality and life situation, may determine one's usual sleep habits as well as the level of adrenocortical activity.