ISI questionnaire: seven questions, response options, and timeframe
What are the seven ISI question areas?
The following is a summary of the topics, not a reproduction of the questionnaire. Use the actual form when answering.
- Getting to sleep.
- Remaining asleep.
- Waking earlier than intended.
- Satisfaction with sleep.
- Impact on everyday functioning.
- How apparent the impact seems to other people.
- Distress about the sleep problem.
Why do the response labels change?
A question about the intensity of a difficulty needs different wording from a question about satisfaction. The printed numerical values keep the scoring direction consistent: higher values indicate greater difficulty or impact.
For the satisfaction question, use the number attached to your selected response. Do not introduce an extra reversal because the topic sounds positive. This is a common source of avoidable scoring mistakes when people calculate a total by hand.
Does the ISI ask about two weeks or one month?
Check the heading on your version before you begin. Both recall periods appear in published or online forms. Do not silently substitute the last night for the period requested.
If yesterday was especially difficult, pause to consider the other days too. You are being asked for a summary, not a perfect reconstruction of every minute. If the period includes both exams and a break, mention that when discussing the result.
How should I answer if every night is different?
Choose the available answer that best represents the requested period. Do not select every answer based only on the worst night or only on the easiest one.
You can make a separate note such as “three particularly difficult nights before morning papers.” That note preserves the variation without altering the questionnaire. If no response feels exact, the limitation belongs to a brief measure; it is not evidence that you answered badly.
What if I am unsure what other people notice?
Answer from your own perspective, following the wording on the form. You do not need to interview classmates or get someone to approve your answer.
An estimate about visible impact is still a self-report. A quiet student whose difficulties are not obvious can need support just as much as someone whose tiredness is noticed. This item should not become a test of whether others believe you.
Can I skip a question?
A straightforward 0–28 total requires all seven scored responses. An unanswered item is not a zero. If you cannot answer, follow the form's instructions or ask the professional using it how to proceed.
Do not compare an incomplete sum with the standard bands. Similarly, avoid changing the question wording, substituting your own options, or translating individual phrases casually and assuming the result remains equivalent.
What should I record with my result?
Keep enough context to make a future comparison meaningful. A total without a date or recall period can be difficult to interpret later.
- The date you completed it.
- The version, language, and period requested.
- All seven responses and the total, if available.
- Any major change in schedule or circumstances.
- The sleep concern you most want help with.
This page is educational. A questionnaire score cannot establish a diagnosis or explain the cause of your symptoms. If you are struggling, speak with a counselor or healthcare professional, whatever your score.
Read how to ask for support or find a helpline in your country.