Gender Differences in the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Emotional Reactivity

doi:10.12114/j.issn.1007-9572.2019.00.450

Abstract

Abstract: Background　According to the World Health Organization，about 27% of people around the world have sleep quality problems.Sleep deprivation can lead to a significant decline in cognitive abilities such as working memory，judgment in decision-making，task conversion and emotional processing.There are significant differences in emotional awareness，treatment，expression and experience between men and women.Objective　To investigate the effect of sleep deprivation on emotional reactivity on the basis of gender.Methods　By use of convenience sampling，33 non-psychology students from a university in Guangdong Province were enrolled from 6th to 26th May，2018，including 15 males and 18 females.The experiment gives male and female subjects nine levels of scores from 1 to 9 on the wake-up（i.e.，the emotional experience intensity of the subjects：calm/excitement） before and after sleep deprivation.By assessing emotional intensity（arousal） towards negative，neutral and positive emotional pictures（selected from International Affective Picture System，IAPS） before and after sleep deprivation，the influence of sleep deprivation on emotional reactivity was examined by sex.Results　Gender was associated with the main effect of sleep deprivation on emotional arousal，the results indicated that females showed higher level of arousal than males after sleep deprivation（P<0.001）.Post-sleep deprivation emotional arousal was much higher than that before sleep deprivation，indicating the main effect of sleep deprivation was evident（P<0.001）.The main effect of sleep deprivation on individual emotion titer was significantly different（P<0.001）.The interaction effect between gender and sleep deprivation was significant，females showed higher levels of arousal in recognition of the negative，neutral and positive pictures after sleep deprivation（P<0.001）.There is significant interaction between gender and emotional titer，males showed higher level of arousal in recognition of the negative pictures than the neutral pictures（P<0.001），and showed higher level of arousal in recognition of the neutral pictures than the positive pictures（P<0.001）.Females showed higher level of arousal in recognition of the negative pictures than the neutral pictures（P<0.001），while showed similar levels of arousal in the assessment of neutral and positive pictures（P>0.05）.There was significant interaction between emotional titer and sleep deprivation，sleep deprivation was related to higher level of arousal in the assessment of the neutral and positive pictures（P<0.001）.There is marginal significant interaction among gender，titer and sleep deprivation（P=0.08）.Conclusion　Sleep deprivation has an effect on individual emotional reactivity.The results of this study show that the experience of emotional intensity is not only related to gender，but also has significant correlation with sleep deprivation.

Key words: Sleep deprivation；Emotions；Sex factors；Stress, psychological

摘要： 背景　世界卫生组织调查显示，全世界大约有27%的人存在睡眠质量问题。睡眠剥夺会造成人的工作记忆、决策判断及任务转换等认知能力和对情绪的处理能力下降。同时，男性和女性在情绪的觉知、处理、表达及体验等方面存在差异。目的　探究睡眠剥夺情况下个体情绪反应的性别差异。方法　于2018年5月6—26日，采用方便抽样法在广东某高校筛选出符合纳入排除标准的非心理学专业大学生33名为研究对象，其中男15名，女18名。从国际情绪图片系统（IAPS）选取从负性到正性的一系列效价连续的情绪图片，并让被试在睡眠剥夺前后对这些图片的唤醒度（即被试的情绪体验强度：平静/兴奋）进行1~9的九级评分，进而从情绪反应性的角度来考察睡眠剥夺对男女情绪处理影响的差异。结果　性别对个体情绪唤醒度主效应显著，女性对情绪图片唤醒度的评分高于男性（P<0.001）；睡眠剥夺主效应显著，睡眠剥夺后被试对情绪图片唤醒度的评分高于睡眠剥夺前（P<0.001）；效价主效应显著（P<0.001）。性别与睡眠剥夺交互效应显著，女性睡眠剥夺后对对3种效价情绪图片的情绪唤醒度的评分高于睡眠剥夺前（P<0.001）。性别与情绪效价交互效应显著，男性对负性情绪图片唤醒度的评分高于中性情绪图片（P<0.001），对中性情绪图片唤醒度的评分高于正性情绪图片（P<0.001）；女性对负性情绪图片唤醒度的评分高于中性情绪图片（P<0.001），对中性与正性情绪图片唤醒度的评分比较，差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。情绪效价与睡眠剥夺交互效应显著，睡眠剥夺后对中性和正性情绪图片唤醒度的评分均高于睡眠剥夺前（P<0.001）。性别、效价和睡眠剥夺的交互作用边缘显著（P=0.08）。结论　睡眠剥夺会对个体的情绪反应性产生影响，情绪体验强度的差异不仅与性别有关，还与睡眠剥夺这一因素相关。

关键词: 睡眠剥夺；情绪；性别因素；应激, 心理学

LIANG Jingyu,CAO Qian. Gender Differences in the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Emotional Reactivity　[J]. Chinese General Practice, 2020, 23(7): 861-865. DOI: 10.12114/j.issn.1007-9572.2019.00.450.
梁靖宇,曹倩. 睡眠剥夺对情绪反应性影响的性别差异研究[J]. 中国全科医学, 2020, 23(7): 861-865. DOI: 10.12114/j.issn.1007-9572.2019.00.450.

References

［1］FABER N S，H?USSER J A，KERR N L．Sleep deprivation impairs and caffeine enhances my performance，but not always our performance：how acting in a group can change the effects of impairments and enhancements［J］．Pers Soc Psychol Rev，2017，21（1）：3-28．DOI：10.1177/1088868315609487.
［2］CHEE M W，CHUAH，L Y．Functional neuroimaging insights into how sleep and sleep deprivation affect memory and cognition［J］．Curr Opin Neurol，2008，21（4）：4-17．DOI：10.1097/WCO.0b013e3283052cf7.
［3］COTE K，MONDLOCH C，SERGEEVA V，et al．Impact of total sleep deprivation on behavioural neural processing of emotionally expressive faces［J］．Exp Brain Res，2014，232（5）：1429-1442．DOI：10.1007/s00221-013-3780-1.
［4］EDWARDS R R，QUARTANA P J，ALLEN R P，et al．Alterations in pain responses in treated and untreated patients with restless legs syndrome：associations with sleep disruption［J］．Sleep Med，2011，12（6）：603-609．DOI：10.1016/j.sleep.2010.09.018.
［5］OLSON E A，WEBER M，RAUCH S L，et al．Daytime sleepiness is associated with reduced integration of temporally distant outcomes on the iowa gambling task［J］．Behav Sleep Med，2014，14（2）：200-211．DOI：10.1080/15402002.2014.974182.
［6］HOFMANN S G，ELLARD K，SIEGLE G J．Neurobiological correlates of cognitions in fear and anxiety：a cognitive–neurobiological information-processing model［J］．Cogn Emot，2012，26（2）：282-299．DOI：10.1080/j.issn：282.2012.02.26.
［7］ZIMMERMANN P，IWANSKI A．Emotion regulation from early adolescence to emerging adulthood and middle adulthood age differences，gender differences，and emotion-specific developmental variations［J］．Int J Behav Dev，2014，38（2）：182-194.DOI：10.1177/0165025413515405.
［8］YUAN J，LUO Y，YAN J H，et al．Neural correlates of the females' susceptibility to negative emotions：an insight into gender‐related prevalence of affective disturbances［J］．Hum Brain Mapp，2009，30（11）：3676-3686．DOI：10.1002/hbm.20796.
［9］袁加锦，汪宇，鞠恩霞，等．情绪加工的性别差异及神经机制［J］．心理科学进展，2010，18（12）：1899-1908.
YUAN J J，WANG Y，JU E X，et al．Gender differences in emotional processing and its neural mechanisms［J］．Advances in Psychological Science，2010，18（12）：1899-1908.
［10］BLANC P，JHOWRY S，BOUSSUGES A，et al．Effects of holistic cardiac rehabilitation on anxiety and depression：gender difference［J］．Arch Cardiovasc Dis，2015，7（1）：86-92.DOI：10.1016/S1878-6480（15）71732-5.
［11］BAGBY R M，PARKER J D，TAYLOR G J．The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia scale——I.item selection and cross-validation of the factor structure［J］．J Psychosomat Res，1994，38（1）：23-32．DOI：10.1016/0022-3999（94）90005-1.
［12］KNIGHT R G，WAALMANNING H J，SPEARS G F．Some norms and reliability data for the state——trait anxiety inventory and the zung self-rating depression scale［J］．Br J Clin Psycho，2011，22（4）：245-249．DOI：10.1111/j.2044-8260.1983.tb00610.x.
［13］OLATUNJI B O，DEACON B J，ABRAMOWITZ J S，et al．Dimensionality of somatic complaints：factor structure and psychometric properties of the self-rating anxiety scale［J］．J Anxiety Disord，2006，20（5）：543-561．DOI：10.1016/j.janxdis.2005.08.002.
［14］VAN DER HELM E，GUJAR N，WALKER M P．Sleep deprivation impairs the accurate recognition of human emotions［J］．Sleep，2010，33（3）：335-342．DOI：10.1093/sleep/33.3.335.
［15］TEMPESTA D，COUYOUMDJIAN A，CURCIO G，et al．Lack of sleep affects the evaluation of emotional stimuli［J］．Brain Res Bull，2010，82（12）：104-108．DOI：10.1016/j.brainresbull.2010.01.014.
［16］NOLEN H S．Emotion regulation and psychopathology：the role of gender［J］．Annu Rev Clin Psychol，2012（8）：161-187.DOI：10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032511-143109.
［17］CAMPANELLA S，ROSSIGONO M，MEJIAS S，et al．Human gender differences in an emotional visual oddball task：an event-related potentials study［J］．Neurosci Lett，2004，367（1）：14-18．DOI：10.1016/j.neulet.2004.05.097.
［18］TOWNSEND J D，TORRISI S J，LIEBERMAN M D，et al．
Frontal-amygdala connectivity alterations during emotion downregulation in bipolar I disorder［J］．Biol Psychiatry，2013，73（2）：127-135．DOI：10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.06.030.
［19］DAI X J，GONG H H，WANG Y X，et al．Gender differences in brain regional homogeneity of healthy subjects after normal sleep and after sleep deprivation：a resting-state fMRI study［J］．Sleep Med，2012，13（6）：720-727．DOI：10.1016/j.sleep.2011.09.019.
［20］GARRETT D D，KOVACEVIC N，MCINTOSH A R，et al．The modulation of BOLD variability between cognitive states varies by age and processing speed［J］．Cereb Cortex，2012，23（3）：684-693．DOI：10.1093/cercor/bhs055.
［21］BIANCHIN M，ANGRILLI A．Gender differences in emotional responses：a psychophysiological study［J］．Physiol Behav，2012，105（4）：925-932．DOI：10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.10.031.
［22］SHAFFERY J，HOFFMANN R，ARMITAGE R．The neurobiology of depression：perspectives from animal and human sleep studies［J］．Neuroscientist，2003，9（1）：82-98．DOI：10.1177/1073858402239594.
［23］DANIELA T，ALESSANDRO C，GIUSEPPE C，et al．Lack of sleep affects the evaluation of emotional stimuli［J］．Brain Res Bull，2010，82（1）：104-108．DOI：10.1016/j.brainresbull.2010.01.014.

[1]	WANG Hui, HU Yinhuan, FENG Xiandong, LIU Sha, WANG Yangfan. The Application of Artificial Intelligence in Psychological Interventions: Effectiveness, Challenges, and Prospects [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2025, 28(25): 3209-3216.
[2]	YANG Handan, QIAO Wen, HE Shu, CHEN Yi, TONG Yunmei. The Impact of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Combined with Sertraline on Depressive Mood, Suicidal Ideation, and Sleep Quality of Adolescents with Depression [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2025, 28(22): 2813-2818.
[3]	WEN Yongxia, SUN Hai, CHEN Xiaoju, CAI Wanjing, LI Shuni, GUO Honghua. A Systematic Review of the Assessment Tools for Maternal Psychological Birth Trauma [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2025, 28(20): 2555-2561.
[4]	ZHANG Yasi, ZHANG Jing, XU Chen, SUN Yujing, BAI Yinjie. Psychological Resilience Scale for Cancer Patients: a Systematic Review Based on COSMIN Guidelines [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2024, 27(29): 3664-3671.
[5]	Eating Disorders Coordination Group of the Psychosomatic Medicine Society of the Chinese Medical Association, Eating Disorders Research Collaboration Group of the Psychiatric Medicine Society of the Chinese Medical Association, PENG Sufang, HE Qianqian, LIU Qiang, CHEN Yan, ZHANG Lan, LI Xueni, QIAO Huifen, KONG Qingmei, KUANG Guifang, CHEN Han, YU Yang, JIANG Jingjing, LIU Lanying, ZHANG Darong, LI Keqing, WANG Zhen, CHEN Jue. Chinese Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Binge Eating Disorder [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2024, 27(24): 2941-2953.
[6]	RAN Zhuorui, SUN Ruixin, JIA Jingyi, CHE Zhaoyu, LI Ruixi, HE Yaping, CHU Qiao. Advances in Life Goal Adjustment Ability of Cancer Patients and Its Effect on Physical and Mental Health [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2024, 27(23): 2822-2828.
[7]	GUAN Yan, LIN Zehua, LUO Zhenni. Relationship between Effort-reward Imbalance and Job Burnout among Primary Healthcare Workers [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2024, 27(19): 2305-2311.
[8]	ZHOU Xinyang, YU Shujian, WANG Qian, YU Hong. Clinical Characteristics of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and the Influence of Psychological Factors on Residual Symptoms after Reduction [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2024, 27(14): 1685-1691.
[9]	PENG Yangyang, LIU Huailei, ZHANG Hanzhi, YU Dehua. Analysis of Psychosomatic Disorders Perceptions and Healthcare Seeking Behavior Characteristics Based on Patient-physician Multi-party Interviews [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2024, 27(13): 1630-1637.
[10]	DING Lixue, LI Yuhong, ZHANG Yudong. Analysis of Hotspots and Frontiers of Allostatic Load Research: a Visualization Analysis Based on CiteSpace [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2024, 27(08): 1008-1014.
[11]	Eating Disorders Coordination Group of the Psychosomatic Medicine Society of the Chinese Medical Association, Eating Disorders Research Collaboration Group of the Psychiatric Medicine Society of the Chinese Medical Association, CHEN Yan, CHEN Han, LIU Lanying, KONG Qingmei, QIAO Huifen, ZHANG Lan, LI Xueni, KUANG Guifang, ZHANG Darong, LI Keqing, WANG Zhen, CHEN Jue. Chinese Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2023, 26(36): 4487-4497.
[12]	YUAN Dehui, LI Yuhong, XIONG Min, YU Min, MA Ruiliang, YANG Fangfang, YU Qiaozhi, WANG Minghuan. Status and Influencing Factors of Allostatic Load in Pregnant Women at Different Trimesters [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2023, 26(32): 4057-4063.
[13]	LI Yiru, LI Yuhong. Progress in Methods for the Assessment of Allostatic Load and Its Impact on Health [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2023, 26(32): 4051-4056.
[14]	PAN Wen, FENG Jing, ZHENG Yanling, LEI Zihui, GAN Yong. Relationship between Psychological Capital and Intention to Stay among General Practitioners in China: the Mediating Role of Professional Identity [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2023, 26(25): 3127-3132.
[15]	WANG Xinyuan, LIU Yanli, ZHOU Lijun, ZHANG Qi, WEI Qifei, YAN Xingyu, LUO Jiao, LIU Xiaofei. Advances in Resistance to Care in Patients with Dementia [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2023, 26(22): 2809-2815.