LAUSR

Insomnia identity is defined as the “conviction that one has insomnia” or self-identifies as an “insomniac.” The present study sought to evaluate whether insomnia chronicity and past insomnia treatment predicts whether someone identifies as an “insomniac” in a large sample of adult participants with sleep complaints. This study utilized a cross-sectional group design in an archival/community dataset that was collected in the Philadelphia area. The data were drawn from 2,950 adults between 18 and 90 years of age who specifically reported problems with total sleep time (TST). All participants answered questions regarding age of problem onset, insomnia treatment history, and insomnia identity (“Do you think of yourself as an ‘insomniac’?”). Of the 2,863 participants included in this analysis (Mage=53.5±10.7; 76.6% female; 91.2% White), 45.1% identified as an “insomniac.” Binary logistic regression was used to examine whether TST problem chronicity (Myears=12.3±10.0) and treatment history (36.6%) were associated with the likelihood of identifying as an “insomniac.” Outliers were removed and assumptions were met. The model was statistically significant X2=(2, N=2,863)=172.4, p< 0.001, suggesting that it could distinguish between those who did and did not identify as an “insomniac.” The model correctly classified 60.9% of cases. TST problem chronicity (OR=1.04, 95% CI [1.027, 1.043]) and treatment history (OR=0.51, 95% CI [0.435, 0.596]) significantly contributed to the model. Participants were 4% more likely to identify as an “insomniac” with each year of TST problem chronicity and were 49% less likely to identify as an “insomniac” if they engaged in prior insomnia treatment. Findings align with a recent study that also found that individuals with insomnia identity reported longer insomnia chronicity and that individuals with and without insomnia identity seek insomnia treatment. Future analyses should consider additional variables including insomnia frequency (days per week), severity (e.g., total nocturnal wakefulness [TWT]), daytime symptomatology, perceived sleep need, and demographic factors including age, sex, and race. K24AG055602