David F. Mastin

Assessment of Sleep Hygiene Using the Sleep Hygiene Index

The Sleep Hygiene Index was developed to assess the practice of sleep hygiene behaviors. The Sleep Hygiene Index was delivered to 632 subjects and a subset of the subjects participated in a readministration of the instrument. Test–retest reliability analyses suggested that sleep hygiene behaviors are relatively stable over time for a nonclinical population. Results confirmed that sleep hygiene is strongly related to sleep quality and modestly related to perceptions of daytime sleepiness. As predicted, support of the sleep hygiene construct was also provided by strong correlations with the associated features of a diagnosis of inadequate sleep hygiene. The Sleep Hygiene Index, a much shorter sleep hygiene instrument than previously published, demonstrated comparable psychometric properties with additional evidence of validity and a clear item selection rationale.

Online Academic Integrity

Psychology students completed a task with reinforcement for successful performance. We tested academic integrity under randomly assigned conditions of check mark acknowledgment of an honor pledge, typed honor pledge, or no pledge. Across all conditions, 14.1% of students inflated their self-reported performance (i.e., cheated). We found no significant differences in the likelihood of cheating under differing honor pledge conditions. Students were more likely to cheat in late semester (20.2% and 16.0%) compared to the early semester condition (9.6%). Our research is important in understanding the frequency and timing of online academic dishonesty.

Prevalence and determinants of excessive daytime sleepiness among resident doctors at a tertiary care institution in India

Background: Modern socio-occupational settings, especially medical settings, often involve shift work, long work hours, and concomitant maladaptive sleep habits. These factors may result in daytime sleepiness, an increase in the prevalence of sleep disorders, and/or an exacerbation of existing sleep disorders in the contemporary workforce. Aim was to measure the prevalence and determinants of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) among medical residents at a Tertiary Care Institution in India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed and a list of all enrolled medical residents was obtained (N=430). The eligible subjects (N=428) were interviewed and administered the study instruments. The information on sociodemographics and sleep-related factors were collected using the sleep assessment proforma. The Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) was used to measure excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and the sleep hygiene index (SHI) was used to measure sleep hygiene. Data were analyzed with appropriate statistical methods. Results: A total of 350 residents responded (82%). The prevalence of EDS and Maladaptive sleep hygiene were 47.4% and 85.5% respectively. A positive association was found between EDS and weekly work hours, SHI score, sleep duration, sleep quality, midnight awakenings, clinical stream, and rotating shift work. Coffee intake and smoking within 4 hours of bedtime, restless legs and allergies had weak association with EDS. Conclusions: EDS and unhygienic sleep were highly prevalent among resident doctors. The factors associated with EDS were mainly related to work, sleep quantity, sleep quality and sleep hygiene which are amenable to suitable modifications by behavioural change communications, awareness programs and by administrative actions.

Mood Disturbance In a Large Kindred With a High Prevalence of Narcolepsy and Isolated Sleepiness

These findings suggest that genetic haplotypes associated with narcolepsy may create a liability for the development of depression and anxiety in patients with narcolepsy as well as their sleepy kindred.