0907 Sleep Health and Social Isolation among Teens – Data from the National Sleep Foundation Sleep in America® Poll

Abstract Introduction Social relationships significantly affect sleep quality and that negative social experiences are harmful to sleep and mental health. Adolescence is marked by significant cognitive, emotional, identity, and social development, and during this time, teenagers are at considerable risk of experiencing poor sleep quality. The goal of this report is to examine the association of social isolation to sleep health in adolescents. Methods Data were collected as part of the National Sleep Foundation Sleep in America® Poll. The random, population-based sample included N=1,097 teens (age 13-17) who provided complete data. Social isolation was assessed as “In the past seven days, how often, if at all, did you feel lonely or isolated?” Responses were never, once or twice, a few times, nearly every day, or every day, and were coded on an ordinal scale. Sleep variables included sleep quality (excellent, very good, good, fair, poor), weekday and weekend total sleep time, bedtime, and wake time, days/week feeling rested, with difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, sleepiness, taking sleep-promoting medications, and sleep impacting daytime function (coded 0-7), diagnosed sleep disorder, talked to doctor about sleep, perceived sleep need. Regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomics. Bonferonni correction (0.05/18) was used. Results Loneliness rates were 47.5% (never), 27.0% (once or twice), 16.4% (a few times), 6.4% (nearly every day), and 2.6% (every day). Elevated social isolation was associated with fewer days/week feeling rested (oOR=0.81/day) and more days/week with difficulty falling asleep (oOR=1.25/day), difficulty staying asleep (oOR=1.18/day), sleep impacts functioning (oOR=1.26/day), and taking sleep-promoting medications (oOR=1.18/day). Elevated social isolation was also associated with sleep disorder diagnosis (oOR=5.50). Conclusion Elevated social isolation is negatively associated with sleep health among adolescents. Increased social isolation is associated with lower sleep duration and restfulness, as well as increased use of sleep-promoting medications and sleep disorder diagnoses. Targeted initiatives that promote human connection may address the cause of social isolation and perhaps could help improve sleep and mental health among adolescents, thereby improving public health and well-being. Support (if any) R01MD011600, R01MH135978