The Mediating Role of Cognitive Reappraisal on Bedtime Procrastination and Sleep Quality in Higher Educational Context: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study

Background: While bedtime procrastination is commonly associated with adverse outcomes such as poor sleep quality, the mechanisms mediating these effects remain underexplored. Grounded in the Self-Regulation Model of Behavior and the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, this study examines the mediating role of cognitive reappraisal in the relationship between bedtime procrastination and sleep quality over time. Methods: Employing a longitudinal design, the study examined the progression of bedtime procrastination, cognitive reappraisal, and sleep quality among university students at three distinct time points throughout an academic semester. Structural equation modeling and autoregressive time-lagged panel models were utilized to analyze the data, assessing both the direct effects and the mediating role of cognitive reappraisal over time. Results: The results revealed that bedtime procrastination exhibited significant stability across time points (β = 0.619 to 0.658, p<0.001). Bedtime procrastination at earlier time points predicted poorer cognitive reappraisal (β= −0.169, p<0.05 to −0.215, p<0.01) and subsequent sleep quality (β=0.256, p<0.001). Additionally, cognitive reappraisal significantly mediated the relationship between bedtime procrastination and sleep quality (β= −0.359, Boot 95% CI: −0.51 to −0.234), emphasizing the role of emotional regulation strategies in sleep-related outcomes. Conclusion: These findings underscored the impact of bedtime procrastination on sleep quality and highlight cognitive reappraisal as a key mediator. Interventions focusing on enhancing emotion regulation skills could mitigate the adverse effects of bedtime procrastination and improve sleep outcomes among university students.