Socioeconomic Disparities in Sleep Duration Among Veterans of the US Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2014.302375
• Publication Date: 2014-12-19T08:53:27Z
• Authors: Rachel Widome; Agnes Jensen; Steven S. Fu
• Keywords: Male; Afghan Campaign 2001-; Health Status Disparities; United States; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Socioeconomic Factors; Humans; Sleep Deprivation; Female; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Veterans

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.