Alcohol use, coping strategies, extraversion and their relationship to Irish sleep-wake activity and life satisfaction
Authors
Smith, James
Issue Date
2013
Degree
BA (Hons) in Psychology
Publisher
Dublin Business School
Rights holder
Rights
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Abstract
The present study aimed to determine whether alcohol consumption, alcohol use as a coping strategy, extraversion, age, and gender would predict levels of sleep-wake activity and life satisfaction in Irish individuals (N = 135). A quantitative correlational research design was employed to assess how each predictor variable related to sleep-wake activity criterions excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and nocturnal sleep (NS), as well as criterion satisfaction with life. Standard multiple regression results indicated that the combined predictor variables explained about 14% (p < .001) of the variance in satisfaction with life scores, with alcohol use as a coping mechanism and extraversion level significantly predicting 10% (p < .001) and 8% (p = .001) of the variance respectively. Participant age also significantly predicted EDS scores, explaining 3% (p = 0.042) of the variance. The predictor variables did not significantly associate with NS quality. Results suggest that avoidance-coping strategies such as alcohol consumption decrease life satisfaction, and that personality trait extraversion positively moderates satisfaction with life in individuals. Results also suggest that EDS decreases with age. Limitations of the current study are also discussed. Author keywords: alcohol, coping, extraversion, sleep-wake activity, excessive daytime sleepiness, EDS, satisfaction with life, Ireland