Original article
The relationship between sleeping problems and aggression, anger, and impulsivity in a population of juvenile and young offenders

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.05.027Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose

The current study examines both the quantity and quality of sleep reported by male adolescents detained in prison, with a focus on exploring the association between the quantity and quality of sleep with aggression, impulsivity, or anger. This represents a novel area of study not yet explored among incarcerated male adolescents.

Method

One hundred eighty-four offenders took part; 104 young (average age 19 years) and 80 juvenile (average age 16 years). All completed a questionnaire exploring sleeping problems, and measures assessing aggression, anger, and impulsivity.

Results

Aggression was found to relate both to the quantity and quality of sleep reported, with reduced quantity and quality predicted by increased overall aggression. Across aggression subscales, only increased hostility was predictive of reduced current hours of sleep and increased problems in sleep quality. Apnea risk scores were not predicted by aggression, anger, or impulsivity. Differences in sleep behavior before and during prison were demonstrated, with evidence for increased poor sleeping habits within detention. No differences were observed between young and juvenile offenders.

Conclusions

This study suggests a potential relationship between aggression and sleep among an incarcerated adolescent male sample, highlighting in particular a role for hostility. The findings are discussed in relationship to implications for treatment and directions for future research.

Section snippets

Participants

Two hundred fifty male offenders were approached; 186 questionnaires were returned (completion rate 74%), with two multivariate outliers removed. The final sample thus comprised 184 offenders (104 young [age range 18–20 years] and 80 juvenile offenders [age range 14–17 years]).

Sleeping behavior: quantity and quality

Table 1 outlines sleeping patterns reported in prison and before prison. Table 2 presents self-reported behaviors reported likely to be associated with poor sleeping patterns.

Participants reported more sleep before than during prison (F [1,148] = 30.8, p < .001, partial Eta2 = .017). Juveniles reported more hours sleep in prison and before prison than young offenders (F [1,170] = 13.8, p < .04, partial Eta2 = .026; F [1,170] = 39.9, p < .03, partial Eta2 = .031, respectively).

A higher

Discussion

The current study provides evidence that overall aggression is predictive of sleep quantity and quality in a sample of incarcerated adolescent male offenders. It supported the hypothesis that sleep difficulties would be predicted by increased aggression, and is consistent with previous research reporting a link between aggression and sleep difficulties [15]. It is also arguably consistent with research among adolescents indicating an association between sleeping difficulties and problems in

Acknowledgment

Thanks are extended to Rachel Monaghan for assistance with data collection, and to all the prisoners who took part in the study.

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