Date of Graduation

8-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Psychological Science

Advisor/Mentor

Leen-Feldner, Ellen W.

Committee Member

Ham, Lindsay S.

Second Committee Member

Vargas, Ivan

Keywords

Closeness induction task; Sexual assault; Sleep deprivation; Trauma

Abstract

The impact of sexual assault can be significant, including an increased likelihood of subsequent negative psychological and physical outcomes, even compared to other trauma types. Further studies indicate that individuals who have experienced sexual assault are more likely to struggle with interpersonal relationships. Sleep is a transdiagnostic process and disrupted sleep is a prominent feature of post-trauma related symptoms. Sleep is also implicated in social cognitive processes that are used to establish emotional intimacy in interpersonal relationships. The goal of the current study is therefore to examine the relations among sexual assault exposure, sleep, and emotional intimacy. A two-part study was conducted. In Part 1, a total of 76 female adults (Mage = 21.3; SD = 5.69); 40 of whom had a positive history of sexual assault [SA], and 36 of whom had a positive history of non-interpersonal trauma [non-IPT], completed a computer-mediated closeness induction task in order to evaluate effects of traumatic event exposure status on self-reported anxiety and perceived closeness. It was expected that participants with history of SA would evidence greater anxiety and lower closeness compared to the non-IPT group. Results suggested no significant differences between trauma groups on either outcome. Only participants with a history of SA were invited to participate in Part 2 of the study; 40 participants (Mage = 20.5; SD = 7.53) were randomly assigned to, and successfully completed, a night of sleep deprivation or normal sleep, followed by a re-assessment the next morning. Relative to the sleep as usual condition, participants in the acute sleep deprivation condition were expected to exhibit greater increases in anxiety and smaller increases in perceived closeness in response to the closeness induction task. Results suggested that the sleep condition did not impact anxiety ratings, nor was there a significant interaction between condition and time. Similarly, there were no main effects of time on closeness ratings; however, a significant main effect of sleep condition on closeness was present and a significant interaction was present between sleep condition and time such that sleep deprivation demonstrated a significant decrease in closeness scores over time whereas participants in the sleep as usual condition demonstrated significantly higher closeness scores over time. These studies address an important gap in the extant literature and provide more information regarding the consequences of sleep loss on anxiety and emotional intimacy, particularly amongst sexual assault survivors.

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