Story perspectives

Low Heart-Rate Variability Predicts Bedtime Procrastination, Poorer Sleep

5/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researchers Lena Mareen Grabo and Silja Bellingrath reported that lower heart-rate variability predicts bedtime procrastination.
The researchers measured baseline HRV in 135 adults aged 18-82 using a chest-strap monitor.
Higher bedtime procrastination correlated with poorer behavioral regulation, greater emotional difficulty, and only brooding predicted it.
The behavior was linked to shorter sleep and poorer quality, researchers noting the cross-sectional design limits causal claims and hinting at a bidirectional self-control-sleep loop.

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Story summary

Researchers Lena Mareen Grabo and Silja Bellingrath reported that lower heart-rate variability predicts bedtime procrastination.
The researchers measured baseline HRV in 135 adults aged 18-82 using a chest-strap monitor.
Higher bedtime procrastination correlated with poorer behavioral regulation, greater emotional difficulty, and only brooding predicted it.
The behavior was linked to shorter sleep and poorer quality, researchers noting the cross-sectional design limits causal claims and hinting at a bidirectional self-control-sleep loop.