Socioeconomic disparities in sleep duration among veterans of the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Widome, R., Jensen, A., & Fu, S.S. (2015). Socioeconomic disparities in sleep duration among veterans of the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. American Journal of Public Health, 105 (2), e70-e74. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2014.302375
Abstract Created by REACH:
Quality and duration of sleep is an important component of one's health for the general population and especially so for Veterans. Associations between short sleep duration and greater number of deployments, more children in the household, and a lower subjective social status-including perceptions of racism or discrimination-relative to one's community or the negation generally were observed in this study of OEF/OIF/OND Veterans.
Focus:
Physical health
Veterans
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Subject Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Methodology:
Empirical Study
Quantitative Study
Authors:
Widome, Rachel, Jensen, Agnes, Fu, Steven S.
Abstract:
We characterized socioeconomic disparities in short sleep duration, which is linked to multiple adverse health outcomes, in a population-based sample of veterans of the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who had interacted with the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. Lower reported household assets, lower food security, greater reported discrimination, and lower subjective social status were significantly (P < .05) related to less sleep, even after adjusting for demographics, health behaviors, and posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis. Assisting veterans to navigate social and socioeconomic stressors could promote healthful sleep and overall health.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
American Public Health Association
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Author Affiliation:
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, RW
VA Health Services Research and Development, Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, AJ
Center for Chronic Disease and Outcomes Research, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, SSF
Keywords:
afghan campaign 2001-, health status disparities, iraq war, 2003-2011, sleep deprivation, epidemiology, veterans, statistics & numerical data, female, humans, male, socioeconomic factors, united states
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
Sponsors:
US Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Services Research and Development, US, Grant Number: CDA 09-012-2