Sleep onset and morning awakening time tended to occur later in participants with irregular sleep compared to participants with regular sleep. Participants with irregular sleep also tended to engage in more daytime sleeping than participants with regular sleep.

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Sleep onset is when a person transitions from a state of wakefulness and falls asleep.

Sleep Onset

Someone with irregular sleep would sleep and wake at random times.

Irregular Sleep

Phillips, A. J. K., Clerx, W. M., O’Brien, C. S. et al. Irregular sleep/wake patterns are associated with poorer academic performance and delayed circadian and sleep/wake timing. Sci Rep 7, 3216 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-03171-4

Irregular sleep/wake patterns are associated with poorer academic performance and delayed circadian and sleep/wake timing

Irregular Sleep and Sleep Timing

MBIs have not been shown to be more effective than the traditional intervention for insomnia, Cognitive-Based Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). However, an advantage of utilizing MBIs over CBT-I is that it does not require the employment of sleep restriction, which can lead to residual sleepiness. Additionally, MBIs have a comparable or more effective outcome than many medications utilized to decrease the delay of sleep onset and increase sleep quality. It also removes the risk of side effects that may occur when taking these medications. 

How Do Mindfulness Based Interventions Compare To The Traditional Treatments for Insomnia?

Irregular sleepers had less exposure to light during the day compared to regular sleepers. Irregular sleepers also had a smaller difference between the amount of light they were exposed to during the day and during the night. This suggests that the circadian rhythms of irregular sleepers is delayed.

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