Personality Traits Linked to Bedtime Procrastination in Young Adults

A recent study to be presented at the SLEEP 2025 conference in Seattle reveals that certain personality traits are associated with bedtime procrastination among young adults. The research, conducted by scientists including doctoral candidate Steven Carlson from the University of Utah, highlights how emotional tendencies such as neuroticism and lower levels of conscientiousness and extraversion can contribute to delaying sleep.

The study involved 390 young adults with an average age of 24, who completed assessments including a chronotype questionnaire to determine if they are naturally inclined to be evening or morning persons. They also filled out personality trait questionnaires covering neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, along with a two-week sleep diary to track their sleep habits.

Findings suggest that individuals prone to procrastinating their bedtime tend to experience emotional states associated with depression—characterized by negative emotions and a lack of positive feelings—rather than seeking engaging or exciting activities. These emotional patterns persisted even after adjusting for each participant’s chronotype.

The implications of this research point to emotional health as a potential target for interventions aiming to curb bedtime procrastination. Dr. Carlson emphasizes that managing negative emotions and anxiety before sleep could be effective in addressing this widespread behavior, which often results in insufficient sleep.

Healthy sleep is vital for overall health, with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommending adults get at least seven hours of sleep per night. Bedtime procrastination, characterized by delaying sleep without external obligations, diminishes sleep opportunity and can lead to adverse health outcomes.

This study adds to the understanding of the psychological factors behind sleep delay behaviors and suggests that emotional regulation might be key in improving sleep hygiene among young adults.