Physiological, personality, and EEC sleep patterns of 16 Poor Sleep group (PSG) Ss were compared with 16 Good Sleep group (GSG) Ss. Compared with good sleepers, poor sleepers had less sleep time, a higher proportion of Stage 2 sleep, markedly less REM sleep despite a similar number of REM periods, more awakenings, and required more time to fall asleep. Significant physiological differences between the groups were observed during all stages of sleep and during a presleep period. Personality test results clearly indicated a much higher probability of symptomatic complaints among poor sleepers as well as a strong positive relationship between dreaming and indexes of psychopathology. This study did not resolve cause and effect relationships among physiological variables, personality measures, amount of dreaming, and good and poor sleep; however, significant EEG, physiological, and psychological differences were demonstrated.

During the year their insomnia began, chronic insomniacs experienced a greater number of stressful life events compared with previous or subsequent years and compared with good sleepers. In addition, among the life event categories assessed, insomniacs reported a greater number of undesirable events, particularly events related to losses and to ill health. They also had lifelong histories of more illnesses and somatic complaints, beginning with more childhood illnesses and more childhood problems related to eating and sleeping. During childhood, insomniacs reported more frequent discontent with their families, and prior to the onset of insomnia, they had less satisfying relationships with their parents as well as problems in other interpersonal relations and in their self-concepts. Currently, insomniacs felt considerably less satisfied with their lives, had lower self-concepts, and had greater difficulty with interpersonal relationships. Thus, stressful life events, mediated by certain predisposing factors of personal vulnerability, were found to be closely related to the onset of chronic insomnia.

The major purposes of this study were to test the effects of altering the typical home sleeping arrangement on subsequent laboratory sleep, to determine the nature of transient disturbances in EEG sleep patterns of habitual good sleepers, and to explore sex differences in sleep patterns of married couples. Twenty‐eight married good sleepers slept three consecutive nights in the laboratory under both sleep‐with‐spouse and sleep‐alone conditions. Continuous EEG and eye movement recordings were obtained throughout the seven hour bed period. Analyses of variance showed a significant increase in the amount of Stage 4 sleep and a significant decrease in REM sleep under the sleep‐alone condition. Transient changes in sleep patterns of good sleepers were not associated with the usual correlates of poor sleep. Sex differences showed females with significantly more Stage 4 sleep, more total sleep, and fewer awakenings. It was concluded that the typical home sleeping arrangement may be a significant subject‐selection variable in sleep and dream research. The major findings were discussed within the framework of a cortical homeostasis hypothesis.