Validation of the Korean Version of the Anxiety and Preoccupation About Sleep Questionnaire and Comparisons With Other Sleep-Related Cognition Scales Among the General Population

Objective We developed a Korean-language version of the Anxiety and Preoccupation about Sleep Questionnaire (APSQ) and then assessed its reliability and validity among the general population by comparing its results with those of preexisting questionnaires regarding sleep-related cognition. Methods The study participants (n=300) completed the newly translated APSQ as well as Korean versions of the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep-16 items (DBAS-16) Scale, Metacognitions Questionnaire-Insomnia-14 items (MCQI-14), Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale (GSES), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) through an online platform accessible from 17-27 July 2023. A confirmatory factor analysis of the APSQ revealed good fits for both the full-scale and two-factor models, consistent with the original version. Results The Korean version of the APSQ also demonstrated good internal consistency, showing Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.965 for the full scale, 0.954 for factor I, and 0.928 for factor II. In addition, the full-scale APSQ and both subscales demonstrated good convergent validity with ISI, DBAS-16, MCQI-14, and GSES as evidenced by strong correlations between the corresponding scores. The scale information curves further revealed that the APSQ provided more information on the latent trait (worry regarding sleep) than the other sleep measures. Conclusion The APSQ scale and its two subscales are valid tools for measuring sleep-related worry among the general South Korean population. Additional studies of specific clinical groups are required to confirm the scope of its applicability and utility for the treatment of insomnia.