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Napping Position Preferences and Outcomes

University of British Columbia. Alma Mater Society; University of British Columbia. Campus and Community Planning

The present study investigated nap position preferences within the UBC student population and how nap sleep posture can affect perceived mood and alertness-sleepiness outcomes. It was hypothesized that horizontal sleep positions would be the most commonly endorsed preferred napping positions, with improved perceived mood and alertness-sleepiness outcomes. A second hypothesis predicted that lying on one’s back would be the most commonly endorsed napping position, with the best perceived mood and alertness-sleepiness outcomes. Survey data was gathered in-person and online through active recruitment of UBC students. Primary measures included preferred napping position and self-report Likert style questions assessing perceived mood and alertness-sleepiness following less than 30-minute naps. Mood variables consisted of happy-sad, energetic-sluggish, relaxed-tense, and calm-irritable. The outcome measure of alertness-sleepiness was incorporated to reflect the individual’s perceived physiological state post-nap. Descriptive statistics show ‘laying on your back’, ‘laying on your side’, and ‘sitting with your back reclined’ are the most commonly endorsed preferred nap positions for less than 30-minute naps. Results demonstrate no statistically significant difference between preferred napping positions and mood and alertness-sleepiness outcomes. However, a statistically significant difference in mood outcomes between 30-minute or less naps in one’s preferred versus non-preferred position was observed. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”

Report

eng

2019-12-17

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/72828

Unreviewed

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/