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Accept Anxiety to Improve Sleep: The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Relationships between Mindfulness, Distress, and Sleep Quality

Author

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  • Marco Mirolli

    (Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council (ISTC-CNR), Via San Martino della Battaglia 44, 00185 Rome, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to the paper.)

  • Luca Simione

    (Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council (ISTC-CNR), Via San Martino della Battaglia 44, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Monica Martoni

    (Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialized Medicine, St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy)

  • Marco Fabbri

    (Department of Psychology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100 Caserta, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to the paper.)

Abstract

It has been recently proposed that mindfulness can improve sleep quality through the mediating role on psychological distress and that acceptance may play a pivotal role in mindfulness beneficial effects. The aim of the present work was to understand the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on dispositional mindfulness, sleep, and distress, and on their relationships. In particular, we wanted to test the hypothesis that the detrimental effects of lockdown on sleep depended on mindfulness and distress (including anxiety and depression) and that the acceptance facet of mindfulness played the leading role. A longitudinal study based on self-report questionnaires was conducted on 39 Italian adults (M age = 35.03, SD = 14.02; 21 men) assessing mindfulness, distress, and sleep quality before (23 December 2019–8 March 2020) and during (27 April 2020–10 May 2020) the first Italian COVID-19 lockdown. Lockdown decreased mindfulness while increasing distress and sleep problems. Path analysis showed that the effects of lockdown on sleep were fully mediated by mindfulness and distress. Furthermore, a more detailed analysis showed that these effects were mainly dependent on the acceptance component of mindfulness working through anxiety. The present study confirms, in the context of the COVID-19 lockdown, a model according to which mindfulness, and specifically acceptance, influences sleep through the mediating role of distress.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Mirolli & Luca Simione & Monica Martoni & Marco Fabbri, 2021. "Accept Anxiety to Improve Sleep: The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Relationships between Mindfulness, Distress, and Sleep Quality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:24:p:13149-:d:701367
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marco Fabbri & Alessia Beracci & Monica Martoni & Debora Meneo & Lorenzo Tonetti & Vincenzo Natale, 2021. "Measuring Subjective Sleep Quality: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-50, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marco Fabbri & Alessia Beracci & Monica Martoni, 2022. "Insomnia, Time Perspective, and Personality Traits: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Non-Clinical Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Xinyue Wen & Ismaël Rafaï & Sébastien Duchêne & Marc Willinger, 2022. "Did Mindful People Do Better during the COVID-19 Pandemic? Mindfulness Is Associated with Well-Being and Compliance with Prophylactic Measures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-25, April.
    3. Monica Martoni & Marco Fabbri & Annalisa Grandi & Luisa Sist & Lara Colombo, 2023. "Self-Care Practices as a Mediator between Workaholism and Sleep–Wake Problems during COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-14, August.

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