Persistent ‘interest’ rather than relentless ‘perseverance’ is more helpful
Research has shown that maintaining consistent interest in a single goal, rather than sheer perseverance or tenacity, is a crucial factor in reducing excessive daytime sleepiness and improving sleep environments. Professor Chang-ho Yun from the Department of Neurology at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital and Professor Jae-rim Kim from Sejong Chungnam National University Hospital conducted a study on the correlation between the personality trait ‘Grit’ (which signifies persistence and passion towards long-term goals) and daytime sleepiness, a common symptom of sleep disorders. They found a distinct relationship between sustained interest in a goal and a reduction in daytime sleepiness.
The concept of ‘Grit’ was developed by Angela Duckworth, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, which describes a personal drive to consistently strive for achievements amidst adversity. It is known to have a more substantial impact on personal success than intelligence or ability. The research team previously reported that a stronger ‘Grit’ trait correlates with less experience of insomnia.
The current study was carried out on 2,356 adults nationwide, using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to compare and analyze the relationship between Grit’s two subscales: ‘Consistency of Interest’ and ‘Perseverance of Effort’. The results showed that people with sustained interest in their goals were consistently less likely to experience daytime sleepiness, while perseverance alone did not show a significant correlation. This suggests that maintaining long-term interest rather than sheer effort or patience could be a method to improve sleep disorders.
Recent developments in sleep disorder treatment have been focusing on overcoming the limitations of medication by correcting patients’ psychological, behavioral, and habitual factors through ‘Cognitive Behavioral Therapy’. This study contributes significantly to this field by identifying psychological traits that lead to reduced daytime sleepiness, providing an important basis for cognitive behavioral therapy.
Professor Yun noted, “Daytime sleepiness, characterized by uncontrollable drowsiness that severely affects concentration and negatively impacts academic and social activities, is a prominent symptom of sleep disorders. Efforts to maintain passion and interest in long-term goals, rather than blind perseverance, along with appropriate therapeutic interventions, positively impact the management of daytime sleepiness.”
Furthermore, this study is the first major investigation on the relationship between ‘Grit’ traits and daytime sleepiness among the general population, and it has been published in the global academic journal ‘Sleep and Breathing’.