The Relationship between Psychological Distress and Insomnia in Non-Clinical Samples: The Mediating Role of Rumination

Sleep plays an important role in physical and psychological health. Although some studies have explored the relationship between sleep and psychological problems, few studies have examined the role of rumination in insomnia. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychological distress and insomnia by considering the mediating role of rumination. This study was descriptive with a correlational design. 246 undergraduate students (145 female & 101 male) were selected by the Multi-stage cluster sampling method from the University of Kashan. The respondents filled in Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) Lovibond & Lovibond Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS), Nolen-Hoeksema Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS) & demographic questions. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling. Results showed that psychological distress can directly and significantly predict insomnia, and mind rumination has a mediation role in the relationship between psychological distress and insomnia. The predictive variables explained 14% of the variance in insomnia. Depression, anxiety, and stress can directly and indirectly – via mind rumination – cause insomnia. The findings imply that designing and implementing programs to decrease psychological distress with special attention to mind rumination could play a significant role in reducing insomnia and be considered as a supplementary psychological treatment for it.