Correlation of Sleep Quality with Emotional Regulation and Repetitive Negative Thoughts: A Casual Model in Pregnant Women

Given the significance of sleep quality among pregnant women and its effects on the health of the fetus and pregnant mothers, the present study aimed to investigate the correlation of quality of sleep with repetitive negative thoughts and emotional dysregulation among pregnant women. In this correlational descriptive study, 300 pregnant women, residing in Kermanshah and presenting to OB/GYN offices during a month, were selected through convenience sampling. Three questionnaires were utilized for data collection: repetitive negative thoughts, emotional dysregulation, and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Finally, the data was analyzed in SPSS V. 21 and Amos V. 21. The results of the present study revealed that all components of emotional dysregulation were positively correlated with quality of sleep, and there were significant relationships between all three components of repetitive negative thoughts and quality of sleep. Further, the results indicated that repetitive negative thoughts could the quality of sleep (0.22) (P < 0.009). However, emotional dysregulation did not have any significant direct effects on the quality of sleep. In other words, emotional dysregulation was found to affect the quality of sleep through repetitive negative thoughts (0.15), (P < 0.01). According to the results of the present study, it was concluded that the quality of sleep was reduced by emotional dysregulation when repetitive negative thoughts were high. Therefore, it can be concluded that negative repetitive thoughts have a negative influence on the quality of sleep.