To our knowledge there are no research about the influence of self-criticism and self-compassion in the occurrence of insomnia.

To study the association between self-criticism, self-compassion and insomnia on university students; to explore differences in these associations on two moments of student's lives–examination and no examination period.

We anticipate that the stress and pressure of the examination period have an impact on student's sleep and there are, also, differences by age and gender.

Self-Criticism and Self-Reassurance Scale, Self-Compassion Scale, Pre-Activation Sleep Scale, Insomnia Assessment Scale and Anxiety and Depression and Stress Scales were answered by 160 college students (M = 26.45, SD = 7.98; range = 19–54 years) during an examination period and by 108 college students during a no examination period (M = 26.34; SD = 0.43; range = 19–54 years).

In both periods (examination and no examination period) older students (30–54 years) tended to be more self-compassionate and tolerant, such as less self-critical and punitive. During the examination period, younger students (19–29 years) showed higher levels of self-criticism, cognitive, and somatic activation before falling asleep. There was also a higher proportion of younger students in the insomniac and insomnia symptomatic groups. Moreover, significant correlations were found between cognitive and somatic activation and depression, anxiety, and stress in both moments.

In the examination period, the youngest students are more critical and less compassionate, what might lead to greater cognitive and somatic activation before sleep and, consequently, to insomnia symptoms and insomnia itself.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.