Anxious temperament and mood as mediated by insomnia symptoms among male prisoners: a cross-sectional study

The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between anxious temperament and mood dimensions and to examine insomnia as a mediator in this relationship in male prisoners. The study sample comprised 245 Caucasian adult males recruited from a sentenced prisoner population in Poland. Participants’ ages ranged from 19 to 65 years. Affective temperaments were assessed using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS−A). Mood was measured using the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist (UMACL). Insomnia was evaluated with the Athens Insomnia Scale. Anxious temperament directly, and indirectly via insomnia symptoms, appeared to affect two arousal-related mood dimensions: tense arousal and energetic arousal. High levels of anxious temperament increased insomnia symptoms. Anxious temperament and insomnia increased tense arousal but decreased energetic arousal. Results show that anxious temperament and insomnia are risk factors for tension/nervousness and fatigue/tiredness as mood dimensions among prisoners. The study suggests psychological and medical care should focus on anxiety and insomnia symptoms to improve mood among male prisoners.