No More Counting Sheep? Interoceptive Not-Distracting as a Novel Predictor of Insomnia Symptom Severity in College Students

Abstract Study Objectives. Emerging adults demonstrate heightened vulnerability to pre-sleep arousal due to pervasive electronic device use, heightened rumination, and higher overall anxiety. To address this concern, this study sought to assess interoceptive awareness, a non-judgmental and trusting attitude towards body sensations that may reduce pre-sleep arousal, as a protective factor against insomnia symptoms during young adulthood. Methods and Measures. We assessed the association between interoceptive awareness, pre-sleep arousal, and insomnia symptom severity using cross-sectional data from university students (N = 420) in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Participants completed the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness-2 (MAIA-2), Pre-sleep Arousal Scale, and the Insomnia Severity Index. Data were analyzed using hierarchical linear and logistic regressions and a mediation analysis. Results. The “not-distracting” factor emerged as the strongest interoceptive predictor of insomnia symptoms in emerging adults. When adjusting for mood and demographic covariates, not-distracting significantly predicted pre-sleep arousal (b* = -0.12, p < .001). In the mediation model, pre-sleep arousal (95% CI: -0.25, -0.11) mediated the association between not-distracting and insomnia symptoms. Not engaging in distraction from pain and discomfort was associated with lower insomnia symptom severity via lower levels of cognitive and physiological arousal before sleep. Conclusions. Interoceptive not-distracting and pre-sleep arousal may be important factors to consider in the treatment of sleep disturbance in this age group. Findings suggest that specific training in interoceptive capacities could be a valuable addition to preventive interventions for sleep health in young adults.