In the article titled- The Amygdala, Sleep Debt, Sleep Deprivation, and the Emotion of Anger: A Possible Connection? the authors Alexander Muacevic and John R Adler writes at length about sleep deprivation and anger.
Itlani conducted a nationwide survey of Japanese high-school juniors and seniors to study the prevalence of anger and impulsivity and its associated factors. The survey questioned students on their personal data, lifestyle, mental status, and feelings of anger and impulsivity. The researchers used logistic regression to analyse a total of 94,777 responses. The researchers found a positive correlation between anger and impulsivity and behaviours such as “consuming alcohol, smoking, skipping breakfast, shorter sleep duration, decreased positive feelings, increased depressive feelings, and using a mobile phone for long hours." The researchers concluded by saying that healthy lifestyle choices, getting enough sleep every night, and having good mental health all play a key role in preventing issues with anger and impulsivity. A similarly designed study with first-year medical students as the research subjects found that the best predictors of sleep difficulties were stress, anger, hypervigilance, hostility, anxiety, and interpersonal sensitivity. Studies such as these suggest a correlation between sleep deprivation and anger. All of the above-mentioned three studies more or less show similar results related to sleep and anger/aggression. However, there are currently no studies that have concluded a pathophysiological association between sleep and anger in adolescents.
Sleep deprivation appears to impact adults, adolescents, and children in similar ways. Sleep deprivation can exacerbate pre-existing mood disturbances, such as anger, depression, and anxiety, and can lead to confusion, fatigue, and lack of vigour. Even just one sleepless night correlates with these changes in function. Randler administered the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, which assesses physical and verbal aggression, anger, and hostility in a group of young adult males and analysed responses in correlation with sleep duration. They found that young males who reported shorter sleep durations had higher instances of aggression and anger. Researchers have noticed similar patterns of sleep deprivation and changes in mood and behaviour in both male and female subjects. On average, males tend to score higher in physical and verbal aggression when sleep deprived and females tend to be more susceptible to decreased mood, anxiety, low energy, and brain fog. Male and female children score similarly when tested for the correlation between sleep deprivation and mood changes. However, these behaviour/mood changes are more likely to present as externalizing behaviours, such as hyperactivity, anger, aggression, impulsivity, tantrum behaviour, and inappropriate social interactions behaviours.
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