Author: Hale, Lauren

Source: Journal of Public Health, Volume 27, Number 2, June 2005 , pp. 205-211(7)

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract:

Background Both marriage and education appear to confer a protective effect on health. Few studies have examined the extent to which both undersleeping and oversleeping explain these relationships. I examined whether marital status, educational background, and other sociodemographic variables are associated with higher-risk sleep durations.

Methods Over 7000 individuals aged 25–64 collected time-use diary data during a 24-h period. For both weekdays and weekend days, separate multinomial logistic regression models were estimated using three categories of sleep duration as the outcome category.

Results Unmarried individuals are significantly more likely to sleep a short amount on both weekdays and weekends compared to married people. Single people also are significantly more likely to sleep a long amount. People with less than a college education are significantly more likely to sleep both a short amount and a long amount on weekdays relative to the college educated.

Conclusions High-risk sleep durations (short sleeping and long sleeping) are positively associated with sociodemographic categories associated with poorer health. More research should investigate whether social inequalities in health can be explained in part by variation in sleep duration.

Keywords: sleep duration; marital status; education; time-use studies

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdi004

Publication date: 2005-06-01

More about this publication?

• The Journal of Public Health focuses on current theory and practice within the whole spectrum of public health. We aim to promote high standards of public health practice by publishing readable papers of high scientific quality. The journal looks in depth at the causes of disease and, in the light of this, how to prevent ill-health and promote good health. Disease trends are also monitored, as are outbreaks of environmental hazards. The journal also covers planning, provision and evaluation of health services.

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Public Health
• By this author: Hale, Lauren

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers