Relationships Between Coping Flexibility, Distress, and Bedtime Procrastination: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Bedtime procrastination–the tendency to delay or put off going to bed–causes or promotes poor sleep quality and leads to distress. Coping flexibility, which is the ability to modify coping strategies according to stressful situations, can reduce distress induced by stressful situations. No studies have examined the relationship between coping flexibility and bedtime procrastination. This study aimed to examine the relationships between coping flexibility, distress, and bedtime procrastination. We hypothesized that higher coping flexibility would be associated with lower bedtime procrastination through lower distress. Participants, comprising 58 male and 96 female college students, completed a questionnaire on coping flexibility, distress, and bedtime procrastination. Bedtime procrastination was assessed 1 year after coping flexibility and distress. A mediation analysis showed that higher coping flexibility was associated with lower bedtime procrastination through reduced distress. Our findings imply that bedtime procrastination may be improved by increasing coping flexibility through training, such as cognitive behavioral therapies or mindfulness. Herein, we discuss our findings in terms of the possibility of improving bedtime procrastination.