Helaman Ching Fung Li
Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Aggression
Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Aggression
Curiously, the relationship between sleep deprivation and aggression is less than frequently found in psychological research. Links have been found between sleep deprivation and depression, as well as correlations between depression and anxiety symptoms coinciding with impulsive aggression, so intuition may tell us there must therefore be a relationship between sleep deprivation and aggressive tendencies.
This is exactly what Brigham Young University–Hawaii graduate, Helaman Ching Fung Li, sought to discover in his senior research project. Li reported results that “sleep deprivation significantly predicted overall aggression,” which strongly indicates the assumption of a correlation is, indeed, accurate. In fact, after testing participants with a sleep quality index and then four measures of aggression, Li found “all four were predicted by sleep deprivation.” Perhaps this is all the more reason to catch one’s Z’s, colloquially speaking, if one wishes to diminish their aggressive tendencies.
Li says that his research project has given him “courage and surety” for his work and schooling in the future. He aspires to study and eventually pursue a career in criminology. Despite the difficulty to research this subject in an undergraduate program, Li is sure his project on aggression pushes him in the right direction, saying his research has helped him “better understand maladaptive behaviors.”
This is exactly what Brigham Young University–Hawaii graduate, Helaman Ching Fung Li, sought to discover in his senior research project. Li reported results that “sleep deprivation significantly predicted overall aggression,” which strongly indicates the assumption of a correlation is, indeed, accurate. In fact, after testing participants with a sleep quality index and then four measures of aggression, Li found “all four were predicted by sleep deprivation.” Perhaps this is all the more reason to catch one’s Z’s, colloquially speaking, if one wishes to diminish their aggressive tendencies.
Li says that his research project has given him “courage and surety” for his work and schooling in the future. He aspires to study and eventually pursue a career in criminology. Despite the difficulty to research this subject in an undergraduate program, Li is sure his project on aggression pushes him in the right direction, saying his research has helped him “better understand maladaptive behaviors.”
Helaman’s project poster can be viewed in more detail here.
Article by Kyle Evan Madsen
