The Importance of Perceived Network Support for Negative Life Events and Sleep Disruption: A Longitudinal Fixed-Effects Analysis

Stephanie Child
Emily Ruppel, University of California, Berkeley
Ruijie Zhong, University of California, Berkeley
Leora Lawton, University of California, Berkeley

Sleep is important for well-being, with lack of sleep associated with reduced health, greater use of healthcare services, greater work absenteeism, and higher risk of morbidity and mortality. Despite the awareness that social relationships can have an impact on the causes of sleep disorders, little research has examined causal relationships between negative life events and sleep disruption, and the ability of network support to buffer these relationships. Using longitudinal data from the UC Berkeley Social Networks Study (n=3,477 person-years), we use fixed-effects models to assess associations between negative life events, perceived support within the social network, and sleep disruption. The data indicate specific types of negative life events, namely a chronic break in a relationship and problems with work or school may cause sleep disruptions, and further that these associations are buffered by the availability of specific types of support roles within the broader network, including social companions and confidants.

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 Presented in Session 5. Health & Mortality 1