Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Intolerance of Uncertainty and Facial Interpretation
Poster Number
20
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Merry Sleigh
Abstract
Research has shown that sleep deprivation is associated with inhibited interpretation of emotions. Our study examined adults’ reactions to uncertain feelings and neutral facial stimuli in the context of sleep patterns. We hypothesized that participants with poorer sleep quality would be less tolerant of uncertainty and more likely to interpret faces negatively. Participants were 81 adults with a mean age of 19.90. We selected neutrally coded images from the Chicago Face Database (CFD). Participants then indicated on a continuum which emotion they perceived. The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS) was used to evaluate emotional responses to uncertainty. Sleep quality was assessed with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Higher scores on both sleep measures indicated increased sleep deprivation. Results revealed that the higher the participants’ intolerance of uncertainty, the higher the ESS and PSQI. In support of our hypothesis, these results revealed that poor sleep was associated with increased intolerance of uncertainty. However, participants’ responses to neutral faces were not related to sleep. In sum, lowered tolerance of uncertainty from lack of sleep has the potential to impact an individual’s emotional perceptions. However, similar facial interpretation data suggests that sleep only impacts specific aspects of emotional functioning. These findings further add to our understanding of sleep’s psychological impact.
Course Assignment
Research Methods, PSYC 302, Merry Sleigh
Recognized with an Award?
Winner, Psi Chi Regional Research Award, SEPA Annual Meeting, April 2016
Previously Presented/Performed?
Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA) Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 2016
Start Date
22-4-2016 12:00 PM
End Date
22-4-2016 2:00 PM
Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Intolerance of Uncertainty and Facial Interpretation
Rutledge
Research has shown that sleep deprivation is associated with inhibited interpretation of emotions. Our study examined adults’ reactions to uncertain feelings and neutral facial stimuli in the context of sleep patterns. We hypothesized that participants with poorer sleep quality would be less tolerant of uncertainty and more likely to interpret faces negatively. Participants were 81 adults with a mean age of 19.90. We selected neutrally coded images from the Chicago Face Database (CFD). Participants then indicated on a continuum which emotion they perceived. The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS) was used to evaluate emotional responses to uncertainty. Sleep quality was assessed with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Higher scores on both sleep measures indicated increased sleep deprivation. Results revealed that the higher the participants’ intolerance of uncertainty, the higher the ESS and PSQI. In support of our hypothesis, these results revealed that poor sleep was associated with increased intolerance of uncertainty. However, participants’ responses to neutral faces were not related to sleep. In sum, lowered tolerance of uncertainty from lack of sleep has the potential to impact an individual’s emotional perceptions. However, similar facial interpretation data suggests that sleep only impacts specific aspects of emotional functioning. These findings further add to our understanding of sleep’s psychological impact.
