Associations of interpersonal sensitivity and emotion regulation processes with insomnia in middle school students

HE Wenzhi; WEN Jian; WANG Yao; WU Junlin; HUANG Guoping

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-1436

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (3) : 314-318. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-1436

Psychological and Behavioral Development

Associations of interpersonal sensitivity and emotion regulation processes with insomnia in middle school students

HE Wenzhi¹, WEN Jian², WANG Yao³, WU Junlin⁴, HUANG Guoping^3,4

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Abstract

Objective To examine the associations of interpersonal sensitivity and emotion regulation difficulties with insomnia in adolescents, and to explore the underlying psychological mechanisms, so as to inform future intervention strategies. Methods In May 2022, a convenience sampling method was used to select 3 500 students from three middle schools in a city in Guangxi for the study to fill out the paper questionnaire including demographic information, Insomnia Severity Index(ISI), Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure(IPSM), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale(GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnare 9-item scale(PHQ-9).Data were analyzed using SPSS AU online statistical software with ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, Structural Equation Modeling, and Bootstrap method. Results Valid responses were obtained from 3 402 participants.Adolescents with insomnia reported significantly higher interpersonal sensitivity (total and subscale scores: F=8.880 - 332.461, P<0.001) and greater emotion regulation difficulties (total and subscale scores: F=16.552 - 526.344, P<0.001) compared to those without insomnia.Both interpersonal sensitivity (r=0.083 - 0.349, P<0.01) and emotion regulation difficulties (r=0.058 - 0.434, P<0.01) were positively correlated with insomnia severity.Mediation analysis revealed that emotion regulation difficulties partially mediated the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity and insomnia,with a total indirect effect value of 0.012 and an effect share of 48%. Conclusions Interpersonal sensitivity and emotion regulation difficulties are significantly associated with adolescent insomnia, with emotion regulation difficulties playing a partial mediating role.Future studies should develop an insomnia risk prediction model for adolescents, enabling school-based risk stratification, early identification of high-risk individuals, and targeted interventions to promote psychosocial well-being.

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insomnia / interpersonal sensitivity / emotional regulation / middle school students / mediating role

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HE Wenzhi, WEN Jian, WANG Yao, WU Junlin, HUANG Guoping. Associations of interpersonal sensitivity and emotion regulation processes with insomnia in middle school students[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2026, 34(3): 314-318 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-1436

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