Insomnia and emotion dysregulation: a meta-analysis perspective focusing on the process and dispositional model of emotion regulation

Insomnia and emotion dysregulation (ED) are intricately related, yet their aggregate association across different domains of ED and the effect of moderating factors such as health status, age, and gender on their relationship remain unclear. This meta-analysis synthesized data from 57 studies, pooling 119 effect sizes from correlational and 55 from group comparison studies to explore the distinct associations between ED and both insomnia symptoms and disorder. The results revealed significant associations between insomnia symptoms and ED, primarily in individuals with serious health-related conditions (Fisher Zno-condition = 0.22, Fisher Zserious-conditions = 0.37, p < 0.00001). This association’s strength is influenced by specific domains of ED, such as impulse control and a higher use of maladaptive regulation strategies. Insomnia disorder was linked to greater ED problems regardless of health status (Hedges’ g = 0.99, p = 0.01). Reliance on maladaptive strategies and difficulties in dispositional domains of ED were closely linked to insomnia symptoms/disorder compared to the inability to use adaptive strategies. Age and gender did not impact the association in correlational or group comparison studies. These findings underscore a robust link between insomnia and ED, suggesting the integration of emotion regulation skills’ improvement in insomnia treatments to enhance therapeutic outcomes.