Anxiety and depression mediate the relationship between self-disgust and insomnia disorder

Objectives: There is limited research on the association between insomnia and negative self-conscious emotions. This study assessed if individuals with insomnia reported higher scores in self-disgust than normal sleepers, and if the association between insomnia and self-disgust was mediated by depression and anxiety. Methods: Twenty seven individuals with DSM-5 Insomnia Disorder and 30 normal sleepers completed self-reported measures of self-disgust, anxiety and depression. Results: Individuals with insomnia reported significantly higher scores in self-disgust, anxiety and depression than normal sleepers. Insomnia significantly predicted self-disgust, but this association was mediated by anxiety and depression. Conclusions: This is the first study that demonstrated the association between clinically diagnosed insomnia in young adults and self-disgust, and highlighted the mediating effects of anxiety and depression. Keywords: