Poor Sleep Is Associated With Greater Marital Aggression: The Role of Self Control

Background/Objective: Although sleep problems are linked to relationship difficulties, the mechanisms involved have not been empirically demonstrated. The present study considers self-control as such a mechanism. Participants: Data were collected from 342 predominantly white, middle-class, married adults. Method: Participants completed online questionnaires about sleep, marital aggression, and self-control, and a virtual voodoo doll task. Results and Conclusions: Sleep problems were associated with higher levels of aggression on all measures, and lower self-control mediated these associations. Associations did not depend on participant gender, presence of children in the home, income, or length of marriage.