
Research
During her PhD, Amber explored how positive psychological traits like optimism, mindfulness, gratitude, and self-compassion promote good sleep by reducing the negative thoughts and emotions that disturb it. On this page, you will find links to her original PhD thesis and peer-reviewed academic publications, which can all be read for free. Links to her recent work about sleep for shift workers can also be found here.

Original PhD Thesis & Podcast Episode

Amber was awarded a Sussex Psychology Doctoral Scholarship in October 2019 and completed her thesis in January 2023. Her thesis presents a series of studies exploring the links between positive traits, emotion regulation, and sleep. Overall, her findings highlight the need for new, positive psychological approaches to sleep medicine.
This link will take you to the online repository where you can read her thesis for free. ​​Several of Amber's PhD studies have since been published in peer-reviewed journals (see below).
Tout (2023). Positive Psychological Traits Predict and Facilitate Good Sleep Quality and Quantity. Doctoral Thesis, University of Sussex.


During her PhD, Amber appeared on the Psychology in the Classroom podcast to talk about the importance of sleep and discuss some of her early research findings. The podcast is available online.

Academic Publications About Sleep & Positive Psychology
Tout et al., (2024). Investigating the combined and unique contributions of positive psychological traits to sleep and exploring emotion regulation as a common mediator. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 47(2), 207-219.

Across two studies with over 600 participants, this research paper shows that positive traits like mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude and optimism can predict how well we sleep. Optimism and mindfulness have the strongest associations with good sleep. Findings also show that positive traits help to reduce negative thoughts and emotions associated with poor sleep.​
This link will take you to the journal website where you can read the full study for free.
Tout et al., (2025). Positive psychological traits predict future sleep quality and quantity: exploring emotion regulation as a common mediator. Psychology & health, 40(8), 1259-1281.

In this study, over 200 participants completed questionnaires at three time-points (baseline, 3 months later, 6 months later). Results showed that levels of mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude, and optimism at baseline could predict how well participants would be sleeping up to 6 months later. Optimism stood out as the strongest predictor of sleep at each time-point. Findings also showed that emotion regulation helped to explain these relationships.
This link will take you to the journal website where you can read the full study for free.

Academic Publications About Sleep for Shift Workers
Tout et al., (2024). Current sleep interventions for shift workers: a mini review to shape a new preventative, multicomponent sleep management programme. Frontiers in Sleep, 3, 1343393.


Shift work can disrupt the body clock, leading to insomnia, fatigue, and excessive sleepiness. This paper summarises different strategies (excluding medications) that may help to improve sleep for people who work shifts. These strategies involve things that the organisation can do and things that shift workers can do, including: adjusting shift schedules, controlling light exposure, sleep education, planned napping, caffeine use, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, and mind-body practices (e.g., yoga). ​
This link will take you to the journal website where you can read the full study for free.
Tout et al., (2025). SleepShifters: The Co-Development of a Preventative Sleep Management Programme for Shift Workers and Their Employers

In 2024, Amber worked with organisations across the UK to develop a new sleep management programme for shift workers (SleepShifters). This paper explains the co-development process, which included a series of focus groups and interviews with shift workers and employers. The SleepShifters programme includes multiple components: a handbook on shift scheduling, lighting, and rest; an annual sleep awareness event; an interactive sleep education module for new staff; a workplace sleep campaign; a dedicated website with an online therapy platform; and a sleep scheduling app.​
This link will take you to the journal website where you can read the full study for free. Amber also gave an interview about this work, which you can read on the journal website.