Exploring the Effects of Coping Flexibility on Sleep Quality via Subjective Distress: A Longitudinal Study of Young Adults

Coping flexibility is one’s ability to modify their coping strategies and adapt to the demands of stressful situations. However, limited studies have demonstrated that coping flexibility directly influenced sleep quality. This study examined the relationships between coping flexibility, subjective distress, and sleep quality. We hypothesized that coping flexibility would enhance sleep quality via subjective distress.

In total 99 male and 151 female college students completed questionnaires on coping flexibility, subjective distress, and sleep quality. Subsequently, they completed the questionnaire on sleep quality six months later.

Structural equation modeling showed a significant indirect effect of coping flexibility, which indicated that higher coping flexibility was associated with higher sleep quality via reduced subjective distress.

Our findings suggested that subjective distress and lower coping flexibility were risk factors for poor sleep quality.