The MOST common cause for insomnia in the general population is:

The MOST common cause for insomnia in the general population is:

• A. Shift work
• B. Inadequate sleep hygiene
• C. Sleep onset association disorder
• D. Misperception of sleep state

Answer: (B)

Insomnia in the general population is most often driven by everyday behaviors and environmental factors that undermine sleep, known as inadequate sleep hygiene. Irregular bed and wake times, stimulating activities or screens before bed, late caffeine or alcohol use, a noisy or uncomfortable sleep environment, and using the bed for non-sleep activities can all make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. These factors are common and modifyable, so they typically account for the majority of insomnia symptoms. Other options tend to be less prevalent: shift work creates circadian disruption but isn’t the most common cause across the general population, sleep onset association issues describe trouble falling asleep due to conditioning rather than a broad habit pattern, and misperception of sleep state reflects a perceptual distortion that is not the primary driver for most insomniacs.

Insomnia in the general population is most often driven by everyday behaviors and environmental factors that undermine sleep, known as inadequate sleep hygiene. Irregular bed and wake times, stimulating activities or screens before bed, late caffeine or alcohol use, a noisy or uncomfortable sleep environment, and using the bed for non-sleep activities can all make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. These factors are common and modifyable, so they typically account for the majority of insomnia symptoms. Other options tend to be less prevalent: shift work creates circadian disruption but isn’t the most common cause across the general population, sleep onset association issues describe trouble falling asleep due to conditioning rather than a broad habit pattern, and misperception of sleep state reflects a perceptual distortion that is not the primary driver for most insomniacs.