Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science (JCBS)
Volume 40, April 2026
Authors
Jiaxin Qiu, Meiqi Zhang, & Tengteng Tan
Key Findings
- Contact with the present moment is a central node with a potential upstream position.
- Experiential avoidance bridges sleep and PF/PI nodes as a dual-function hub.
- Daytime function and values act as potential upstream nodes in the DAG.
- GGM + DAG reveals central nodes, symptom links, and plausible directional paths.
Abstract
Although Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has demonstrated efficacy in improving sleep quality and addressing maladaptive sleep-related cognitions, the specific dimensions of psychological (in)flexibility most strongly associated with sleep-related outcomes remain unclear. This study applied network analysis to elucidate the complex relationships between sleep quality, dysfunctional sleep-related cognitions, and psychological (in)flexibility in college students, aiming to identify potential intervention targets. A sample of 1071 Chinese college students (60% female) completed a survey including the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory Short Form (MPFI-24), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale-16 (DBAS-16), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Two complementary network analytic approaches were utilized: a Gaussian Graphical Model (GGM) to identify central and bridge nodes, and a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) to reveal plausible directional associations among core variables by detecting potential upstream nodes and directional paths. The GGM identified several core components of the network: attachment to the conceptualized self, cognitive fusion, inaction, and contact with the present moment. Experiential avoidance emerged as a pivotal bridge symptom, linking different variables clusters and potentially facilitating symptom co-occurrence. The DAG analysis revealed contact with the present moment occupied a potential upstream position, displaying direct and/or indirect directed associations with other core components identified in the GGM. Furthermore, daytime dysfunction and values were also identified as significant upstream variables. These findings suggest that contact with the present moment, values, and experiential avoidance may be candidate targets for ACT-based interventions addressing insomnia.