Shenakht Journal of Psychology & Psychiatry

Introduction: Sleep is essential for physiological restoration, homeostatic regulation, and overall functioning. Accordingly, it is important to address bedtime procrastination, a specific sleep disorder characterized by delays in initiating sleep due to anomalies in sleep timing.
Aim: The research aimed to investigate the moderating role of self-control in the relationship between neuroticism and bedtime procrastination.
Method: This study adopted a descriptive–correlational design. The statistical population consisted of all undergraduate students enrolled in Tehran during the 2022–2023 academic year, from which a sample of 343 students was selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Bedtime Procrastination Scale, the Self-Control Scale, and the NEO Personality Inventory. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and regression model in SPSS (version 22).
Results: The results demonstrated a positive correlation between bedtime procrastination and neuroticism (r = 0.12, P < 0.05) and a negative correlation with self-control (r = −0.37, P < 0.01). Furthermore, self-control significantly moderated the relationship between neuroticism and bedtime procrastination, accounting for 13% of the variance. Regression analysis confirmed that self-control (β = −0.029, p < 0.0001) was a significant predictor of bedtime procrastination.
 Conclusion: Going to bed on time requires self-control, which facilitates the development of positive habits and helps prevent undesirable behaviors. Enhancing self-control and promoting behavioral adaptation can therefore lead to significant improvements in individuals’ lifestyles