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J Camosun Psyc Res. (2021). Vol. 3(1), pp. 91-98.
Submitted Fall 2020; accepted July 2021.

What Consequences Result from a Lack of Sleep?
Authors: Bruna Hutchinson*
Supervising Instructor & Assistant: Michael Pollock and Kristina Andrew, Psyc 110
(“Experimental Psychology”)
Department of Psychology, Camosun College, 3100 Foul Bay Road, Victoria, BC, Canada V8P 5J2
*Corresponding author email: bhutchinson9@shaw.ca

ABSTRACT
In this paper, I sought to uncover the ramifications that follow sleep loss and what actions are
dependent on sleep to better understand its overall importance. Previous research has found that
sleep deprivation can result in depressive moods, impaired decision-making, and weight gain. In
my correlational study, I tested the strength of these relationships by examining naturalistic daily
changes in their variables longitudinally over a two-week period. To measure the consequences
that follow sleep deprivation, I monitored depressive moods, counted impaired decisions and
calculated total calorie intake, and compared them to the number of hours of sleep attained. Data
from this study showed a notable correlation of sleep with calorie intake but not with depressive
moods nor with the ability to make decisions.
1. Introduction
1.2 Literature Review
1.1 Research Problem
We all need sleep to function; however, a
loss of rest can result in various harmful
repercussions. For instance, a lack of sleep
can provoke unstable temperaments and
could contribute to a poor emotional health.
In addition, though sleep patterns differ
between people, a lack of sleep is suspected
to alter cognitive processes and impair our
abilities to make moral decisions. Moreover,
people who do not subject themselves to
sufficient amounts of sleep are presumed to
experience drastic fluctuations in their
weight. I wish to develop a greater
appreciation for the consequences that can
follow a loss of sleep so that I do not belittle
its powerful influences on human health.

Multiple factors can contribute to our
emotions and state of mental health, but
those who do not allow themselves ample
rest can experience more dire moods. Sleep
is an irreplaceable contributor to health and
Paunio et al. (2015) found in their research
that depression can arise in those who
deprive themselves from sufficient sleep.
Results in this article were obtained from a
sample of 12,063 individuals who were
chosen based on their common sleep
tendencies; people with previous depressive
moods were excluded from this sample.
Participants completed self-reported
questionnaires that assessed their sadness in
relation to their sleep time; the obtained
results served to demonstrate the impacts
that sleep loss has on emotional health.
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Paunio et al. (2015) concluded that
depressive moods can often be experienced
in those with persistent sleep loss
tendencies. To obtain the most accurate
results possible, conclusive data was
attained from the participants over multiple
decades. Sleep was determined to be critical
for proper brain function and an essential
component for health and happiness. When
people neglect this fundamental human
requirement, depression can arise with ease.
Proper cognitive function is dependent on
sufficient rest and the repetition of habitual
sleep patterns. As sleep is essential for
alertness, its absence could result in an
impaired stream of consciousness. Sleep
helps to mediate cognitive functions and
Killgore et al. (2006) observed that people
who are awake on little sleep could become
vulnerable decision-makers. The experiment
conducted in this article involved 34
volunteers who completed the Iowa
Gambling Task (IGT) as a manner to assess
the cognitive functions that people
demonstrate with and without sufficient rest.
The IGT acts as a simulation, in which
participant behaviours in response to
decision-making scenarios are monitored.
This test was completed at baseline and once
again with the same participants after two
nights with no sleep. The results of this
experiment suggest that cognitive functions
flounder with increased sleep loss; sleep
affects performance in all areas and should
not be dismissed in its benefits. Killgore et
al. (2006) confirmed that the prefrontal
cortex, which is an essential mediator in
cognitive capacities, is reliant on sleep for
its proper function. Overall, for conventional
brain performance, people must credit sleep
and recognize the irreplaceable role it fills in
our quotidian activities.
When appropriate sleep duration is not
attained, weight gain can be expected as a
result. Markwald et al. (2013) determined

that abnormal increases in weight can occur
in association with restricted sleep
tendencies. The experiment conducted in
this article screened 16 volunteers for a
health check and an interview to assess their
qualifications to participate in the 5-d trial.
These monitored individuals were given
specific instructions on what to eat and how
to exercise over the research period. The
bedtimes and waketimes were modified over
the trial to observe what resulted from a
gradual decrease in sleep. Markwald et al.
(2013) concluded that repetitive sleep loss
slows a person’s metabolism; this
observation demonstrates a correlation
between increased weight and a lack of
sleep. People who failed to allow themselves
adequate rest were found to depend on food
for wakefulness rather than additional sleep.
Sleep is vital for human health; however,
when discounted, no matter their exterior
health tendencies, people can expect an
undesirable shift in their weight.
1.3 Hypotheses
Based on the above literature review, we
predicted the following hypotheses:
• Hypothesis #1: If the amount of
sleep that is attained decreases, then the
occurrence of depressive moods will
increase.
• Hypothesis #2: If the amount of
sleep that is attained decreases, then
decision-making ability will decrease.
• Hypothesis #3: If the amount of
sleep that is attained decreases, then the total
food consumed will increase.
2. Methods
2.1 Participants
The author of this paper served as a
participant in its studies. The participant is
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an 18-year-old, Canadian female. The
participant was an undergraduate student at
Camosun College who completed the
current studies as an assignment for Psych
110 (“Experimental Psychology”) and has
an interest in the ramifications of sleep loss.
The participant wanted to understand the
impacts that sleep deprivation has on her
own health.
2.2 Materials and Procedure
I first performed a correlational study to
test concurrently all of our hypotheses by
examining naturalistic daily changes in their
variables longitudinally. The participant kept
a study journal with her at all times over this
study’s two-week period in order to record
self-observations of the following variables:
(1) emotional distress, (2) cognitive
impairment, (3) nutritional disruption, and
(4) sleep attained.
To measure the depressive moods that
follow sleep deprivation, the participant
reported her attained sleep, in relation to her
mental health over a 14-d period. The
pParticipant monitored her qualitiy of sleep
and determined whether or not depressive
behaviours followed sleep loss. Sleep (hrs)
was monitored with close attention and
depressive moods were assessed (see
Appendix A) on a 5-point scale: 1 = no
change in mood, 2 = slight depressive
moods experienced, 3 = depressive moods
experienced, 4 = moderate depressive moods
experienced and 5 = considerable depressive
moods experienced. The participant did not
allow her habitual mental health states to
influence her status on the scale; scores were
chosen based on observed fluctuations in
mood from what is perceived as normal to
them. The participant recorded her score on
the 5-point scale prior to each sleep time in
the 14-d trial.

To measure the impaired cognitive
functions that follow sleep deprivation, the
participant reported her attained sleep, in
relation to her experienced impaired
decisions over a 14-d period. When a
conscious impaired decision (a decision that
resulted in undesirable consequences) was
made, the participant noted its occurrence
for later examination. The participant did not
to drink excessive amounts of caffeine over
the trial. The participant kept a journal to
record her impaired decision count over the
14-d period.
To measure the ramifications on nutrition
that follow sleep deprivation, the participant
reported her attained sleep, in relation to
their calorie intake over a 14-d period. Prior
to sleep, the participant monitored and wrote
down all calories that had been consumed
over the trial. The participant calculated her
calorie intake with a calorie calculator (see
Appendix B).
To measure the consequences that follow
sleep deprivation, the participant recorded
her attained sleep for a consecutive 14-d
period. Sleep was reported in hours and was
monitored with close consideration, as the
attained amount was a critical component to
collect data from the other procedures. The
participant noted her bedtimes and
waketimes and calculated the total attained
sleep once awoken.
To assess the strength and statistical
significance of associations between
variables predicted by the 3 hypotheses, I
performed Pearson product moment
correlations of their outcome variables
(emotional distress, cognitive impairment,
and nutritional disruption) with their
predictor variable (sleep attained). For
testing Hypothesis #1, I correlated
depressive moods with attained sleep. For
testing Hypothesis #2, I correlated impaired
decisions with attained sleep. For testing
Hypothesis #3, I correlated calorie intake
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with attained sleep. A correlation coefficient
was considered statistically significant if the
probability of its random occurrence (p) was
< .05 (i.e., less than 5% of the time expected
by chance alone).
3. Results
As shown in Table 1, attained sleep was
associated with calorie intake but not with
depressive moods or impaired decisions.
Caloric intake was significantly negatively
correlated with attained sleep (r = -0.64, p =
0.012226; see Figure 3). Depressive mood
was not significantly associated with
attained sleep (r = 0.46, p = 0.103282; see
Figure 1). Impaired decisions were not
significantly correlated with attained sleep (r
= 0.14, p = 0.631941; see Figure 2). Based
on a comparison between the correlation
coefficients, attained sleep showed the most
notable correlation with calorie intake.
4. Discussion
4.1 Summary of Results
Based on previous research, I
hypothesized that some variables are reliant
on sleep and that sleep loss can result in
three specific ramifications: the experience
of depressive moods (Hypothesis #1), the
impairment of cognitive functions
(Hypothesis #2) and the increase of total
calories consumed (Hypothesis #3). Data
attained from the correlational study
supported a notable correlation between
attained sleep and calorie intake (Hypothesis
#3), but not with depressive moods and the
abilities to formulate decisions (Hypothesis
#1 and #2).
4.2 Relation of Results to Past Research

Depressive moods were not found to be
experienced as attained sleep decreased from
the correlational research that I conducted.
Paunio et al. (2015) determined that
depression can result from sleep loss;
however, the data that I obtained does not
validate this statement. While Paunio et al.
(2015) attained data from reported
questionnaires that assessed the sadness of
participants in relation to their sleep time,
his sample consisted of 12,063 same-sex
twins. In addition to this, Paunio et al.
(2015) collected data over multiple decades
to obtain the most accurate results possible. I
completed personal reports in a similar
fashion to past research, but the results were
attained from one participant and the
research period lasted for two weeks.
Perhaps I would have produced more
accurate results had the data been
representative for a greater sample of people
and collected over a longer period of time.
The dissimilar results that our studies
concluded stresses the idea that the
relationship between attained sleep and
mood is method dependent to a certain
extent.
Cognitive impairment was not observed
to occur as attained sleep decreased from the
correlational research that I conducted.
Killgore et al. (2006) observed that people
who experienced sleep loss could become
vulnerable decision-makers; however, the
data that I concluded does not support this
claim. While Killgore et al. (2006) attained
data from a sample of 34 people he utilized a
specific test on participants in order to draw
conclusions. His participants completed the
IGT at baseline as well as after two nights
with no sleep. He manipulated the sleep that
those involved attained to procure data
whereas I did not alter sleep patterns. Had I
experimented with sleep and forced the
participant to receive a certain amount each
night, then perhaps I would have produced
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results that were more similar to those that
Killgore et al. (2006) uncovered. The
dissimilar results our studies concluded
underscores the idea that the relationship
between attained sleep and cognitive
function is somewhat method dependent.
The data that I obtained from
correlational research supported the claim
that an increase in consumed calories
occurred as a repercussion of a decrease in
attained sleep. Markwald et al. (2013)
determined that abnormal increases in
weight can occur in association with sleep
loss; moreover, the data that I procured
backs up this declaration. While Markwald
et al. (2013) attained data from a somewhat
small (16 participants) sample, he instructed
the involved individuals on what to eat and
how to exercise over the 5-d research period.
I did not conduct a similar test as nutritional
products and attained exercise were not
monitored as a means to collect data. In
addition to this, Markwald et al. (2013)
altered the bedtimes and waketimes that
participants received over the trial to
observe attained sleep tendencies in relation
to calorie intake. Since Markwald et al.
(2013) collected data over such a short
period of time, she had to manipulate factors

in order to obtain the most accurate data. I
conducted research over a 14-d period and
therefore was able to obtain similar results
without the implementation of structured
practices and processes. The similar results
we both found support the idea that a
nonexclusive relationship is prevalent
between attained sleep and calorie intake

References
Killgore, W. D. S., Balkin, T. J., Wesensten,
N. J. (2006). Impaired decision making
following 49 h of sleep deprivation.
Journal of Sleep Research 15, 7-13.
Markwald, R. R., Melanson, E. L., Smith,
M. R., Higgins, J., Perreault, L., Eckel, R.
H., & Wright, K. P. (2013). Impact of
insufficient sleep on total daily energy
expenditure, food intake, and weight
gain. Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, 110(14), 56955700.
Paunio, T., Korhonen, T., Hublin, C.,
Partinen, M., Koskenvuo, K., Koskenvuo,
M., Kaprio, J. (2015). Poor sleep predicts
symptoms of depression and disability
retirement due to depression. Journal of
Affective Disorders 172, 381-389.

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Table 1
Correlation coefficient (r) values, with number of daily trials (n) per correlation in brackets.
Variable Correlated
Sleep attained & emotional distress

r(n)
0.46(14)

Sleep attained & cognitive impairment

0.14(14)

Sleep attained & nutritional disruption

-0.64(14)*

* p < .05.

Figure 1
Scatterplot of attained sleep and depressive moods.

Depressive Moods (1-5 scale, 1=no change
in mood, 5=considerable depressive mood)

3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5

1
0.5
0
7.8

8

8.2

8.4

8.6
8.8
Sleep (hrs)

9

9.2

9.4

9.6

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Figure 2
Scatterplot of attained sleep and impaired decisions.
4.5

Imparied Decisions (count)

4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
7.8

8

8.2

8.4

8.6
8.8
Sleep (hrs)

9

9.2

9.4

9.6

9

9.2

9.4

9.6

Figure 3
Scatterplot of attained sleep and calorie intake using raw data.

1220

Calorie Intake (cal)

1200
1180
1160
1140
1120
1100
1080
7.8

8

8.2

8.4

8.6
8.8
Sleep (hrs)

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Appendix A
5-point scale used to assess depressive moods experienced.

No Change in
Mood

1

Slight
Depressive
Moods
Experienced
2

Depressive
Moods
Experienced
3

Moderate
Depressive
Moods
Experienced
4

Considerable
Depressive
Moods
Experienced
5

Appendix B
Calorie calculator to calculate total calories consumed.

https://www.myfooddiary.com/foods/search

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