Search

Previous research has demonstrated that experiences of discrimination contribute to racial disparities in sleep, and that psychological distress mediates these relationships. However, previous research has not included race as part of the mediation pathway and has had limited dimensions of sleep health and psychological mediators. In the current study, we examine serial mediation pathways by which race and sleep health are mediated through discrimination and subsequently through psychological distress (i.e., depressive symptoms, chronic stress, and loneliness). Data were from the 2010 wave of the Health Retirement Study (HRS). The analytic sample (n= 7,749) included Black and White participants who were included in the enhanced face-to-face interview in 2010 and who completed the psychosocial questionnaire. Race was reported as either Black or White. Sleep health was assessed with a 4-item questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the shortened CES-D, chronic stress via the ongoing chronic stressor scale, and loneliness via the UCLA loneliness scale. Covariates were included in all serial mediation models. Relative to White participants, Black participants reported increased experiences of discrimination, which was associated with increased psychological distress, and poorer sleep health. Findings demonstrate the significant adverse impact that discrimination has on both psychological well-being and sleep health.

To generate the Chinese Sleep Health Index (SHI-C) in Mandarin with cross-cultural adaptations and test its psychometric properties.

OBJECTIVE--To examine whether chronotype and daily caloric distribution are associated with glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes independently of sleep disturbances. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--Patients with type 2 [...]

OBJECTIVE--To examine whether sleep duration and quality are associated with fasting glucose, fasting insulin, or estimated insulin resistance in a community-based sample of early middle-aged adults. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--This [...]

Prior studies have examined sleep during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but have few compared sleep measured both during and prior to COVID. We examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on subjective sleep quality in general and separately by gender and age (<50 vs. ≥50 years). Further, we compared sleep quality between those who did and did not follow quarantine orders.

Graphical Abstract

False beliefs about sleep can persist despite contradicting scientific evidence, potentially impairing population health. Identifying commonly held false beliefs lacking an evidence base (“myths”) can inform efforts to promote population sleep health.

A validated survey instrument to assess general sleep health would be a useful research tool, particularly when objective measures of sleep are not feasible. Thus, the National Sleep Foundation spearheaded the development of the Sleep Health Index (SHI).

To investigate the association of sleep characteristics with prevalent hypertension, diabetes, and obesity in a multiethnic cohort.

Sleep duration has been associated with risk of dementia and stroke, but few studies have investigated the relationship between sleep duration and brain MRI measures, particularly in middle age.

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity are highly prevalent diseases associated with reduced quality of life and life expectancy. We discuss a novel risk factor for these cardiometabolic diseases: circadian disruption. Circadian disruption occurs when the internal circadian (∼24-hour) rhythms are not in synchrony with the environment or each other. This paper reviews (1) cardiometabolic health of shift work, which often leads to circadian disruption, (2) effects of experimentally disrupted circadian rhythms on cardiometabolic function, (3) observational studies of sleep timing and behavioral chronotype, and (4) potential mediators linking chronotype and shift work to circadian disruption and cardiometabolic health.

The overall objective of the 2014 National Sleep Foundation Sleep in America Poll “Sleep in the Modern Family” was to obtain a current picture of sleep in families with at least 1 school-aged child.

Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a subclinical marker of cardiovascular disease. Recent studies suggest that shorter sleep duration is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but there is limited evidence regarding this association using high-quality, objective assessments of sleep. The aim of this study is to determine whether sleep duration is associated with CIMT.

Polysomnograms (PSGs) are routinely ordered by nonsleep specialists. However, it is unknown whether a sleep specialist consultation prior to a diagnostic PSG influences adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.

Loneliness has been shown to predict poor health. One hypothesized mechanism is that lonely individuals do not sleep as well as individuals who feel more connected to others. Our goal was to test whether loneliness is associated with sleep fragmentation or sleep duration.

To determine (1) whether short sleep has increased over 31 years; (2) whether trends in short sleep differed by employment status; (3) which sociodemographic factors predict short sleep; and (4) how short sleepers spend their time.

Recent epidemiologic studies have found that self-reported duration of sleep is associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and mortality. The extent to which self reports of sleep duration are similar to objective measures and whether individual characteristics influence the degree of similarity are not known.

To describe the day-to-day and year-to-year variation in sleep characteristics among early middle-aged adults.

To describe the stability of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores over 1 year among a population-based sample of black and white early middle-aged adults.

Many hormones play important roles in both pubertal development and sleep regulation. Because of the possible consequences of impaired sleep, including impaired health and cognition, it is important to examine whether an association between pubertal stage and sleep exists. The aim of this analysis is to examine the association between sleep and adolescent growth and developmental stage in a large sample of adolescents ages 12–16 years from a nationally representative longitudinal study. This analysis used the public‐use data set of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, an extensive survey of health and behavior among adolescents in the United States. The study included two interviews approximately 1 year apart. Pubertal development, sleep variables, and height are self‐reported. Pubertal development scores were calculated by summing responses to three questions for each sex. The sleep variables include sleep duration, frequent insomnia (once/week or more), frequently waking tired (once/week or more), and insufficient sleep. The results indicate a sex difference in the association between sleep problems and pubertal development. Among females, there was a significant increase in sleep problems with increasing pubertal development score, but not among males. The negative association between sleep duration and pubertal development score, however, was significant in both males and females. There is no association between sleep duration and height velocity (inches/year) in this sample. The results, which are based on a large sample size, warrant further examination with more objective measures into the association between sleep and growth and development among adolescents. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 17:418–424, 2005.© 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Although sleep disturbance is common in acutely ill patients during and after a hospitalization, how hospitalization affects sleep in general medicine patients has not been well characterized. We describe how sleep and activity patterns vary during and after hospitalization in a small population of older, predominately African American general medicine patients.