Personality Development since Childhood Associated with Adult Chronic Insomnia: A Study by Wang’s Memory-Tracing Personality Development Inventory (WMPI)

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the deviation in normal personality development in chronic insomnia patients.

MATERIAL & METHODS: Eighty-one patients with chronic insomnia and 290 healthy controls were assessed with Wang’s Memory Tracing Personality Development Inventory (WMPI). Differences between the two groups were explored to identify developmental characteristics.

RESULTS: Significant differences were found in three phases. During the chronological ages of 3-6 years old, the differences are relatively minor, and manifest in a lower independence level in patients (p<0.05). In older individuals, personality development deficits present mainly as abnormal thinking, excessive interpersonal anxiety, and less independence (p<0.05). Subjects of different ages present with their own developmental characteristics. Generally, patients younger than 36 years of age had a lower developmental level in independence and across emotional dimensions. In summary, there are significant differences in personality development between primary insomniacs and healthy controls (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Individuals are prone to develop chronic insomnia in adulthood if they exhibit a deviation from normal, or expected, personality development while in childhood. Abnormal development of personality correlates with the incidence of chronic insomnia. Subjects with lower independence in self-cognition tend to pursue perfectionism which may associate with a predisposition for chronic insomnia. Patients at different ages present different characteristics in personality development.