Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1366-9128

Date Available

12-12-2025

Year of Publication

2025

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/School/Program

Psychology

Faculty

Lauren N. Whitehurst

Faculty

Michael T. Bardo

Abstract

Sleep complaints in women emerge at menarche and coincide with reproductive hormonal fluctuations throughout the monthly menstrual cycle. To our knowledge, we are the first study (N = 44) to utilize a validated algorithm that uses actigraphy-derived light and activity data in a novel approach to estimate circadian phase, referred here as the photobehavioral phase. We hypothesize that women will have earlier photobehavioral phases, larger phase angles, poorer perceived sleep quality, and greater sleepiness compared to men. In addition, we hypothesize that the perimenstrual phase will be associated with poorer sleep within a subsample of women (N = 15). Contrary to our expectations, we found no statistical sex differences in photobehavioral phase, phase angle, perceived sleep quality, or sleepiness. Likewise, the perimenstrual and mid-follicular phase were statistically comparable in sleep duration, perceived sleep quality, and phase angle. However, wake time was statistically earlier during the perimenstrual phase while self-reported stress was greater in the mid-follicular phase. These results suggest that sleepiness and sleep quality are not strongly driven by sex or photobehavioral phase angles in a sample of healthy and well-regulated sleepers. Furthermore, stress may be a more relevant factor to consider in the sleep experience for normally cycling women.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2025.599

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