ABSTRACT
Objective:To compare the sleep behaviors and the coping styles between chronic insomniacs and normal sleepers.Methods:The self-made questionnaire of sleep behaviors (including the irrational beliefs and attitudes toward sleep, the dysfunctional sleep behaviors and anxiety on evening),the coping styles and the internal-external locus of control(I-E) score were administered to 62 chronic insomniacs and 62 normal sleeper matched by age and sex.Results:The irrational beliefs and attitudes toward sleep, the dysfunctional sleep behaviors, the anxiety on evening, and the scores of I-E and of the self-blame in coping style were higher in the chronic insomniacs than in normal controls. The scores of problem-solving of the chronic insomniacs were lower than that of the normal controls. Regression analysis indicated the irrational beliefs about sleep and the dysfunctional sleep behaviors were associated with problem-solving and I-E scores.Conclusions:Chronic insomnia group has irrational beliefs and attitudes toward sleep, they have more dysfunctional sleep behaviors and higher anxiety on evening. Their ability of problem-solving is impaired and they incline to attribute their fate to external control.