Perceptions of short and long sleepers: Prototype favorability and willingness to reduce sleep

<b>Objective:</b> Few studies have explored sleep-related beliefs in the context of health behavior models. We compared perceptions of short versus long sleeper prototypes and examined whether these perceptions predict willingness to reduce sleep. <b>Participants:</b> College students at a private university in the northeastern United States (Study 1: <i>N</i> = 119; Study 2: <i>N</i> = 140). <b>Methods:</b> In two between-subjects experiments, we assessed favorability ratings of short (5-5.5 h/night) and long (9-9.5 h/night) sleeper prototypes. Study 2 assessed participants' willingness to reduce their own sleep. <b>Results:</b> Short sleeper prototypes were rated less favorably than long sleeper prototypes in linear regression models (<i>p</i> < .001). In Study 1, this association was moderated by participants' self-reported sleep duration (<i>p</i> = .04). In Study 2, higher favorability ratings of short sleeper prototypes were associated with greater willingness to reduce sleep (<i>p</i> = .01). <b>Conclusions:</b> College students view short sleepers more favorably than long sleepers. Findings may inform sleep health interventions for young adults.