Citation

Miller KE, So CJ, Brownlow JA, Woodward SH, Gehrman PR. Sleep Health 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.sleh.2023.06.006

PMID

37532605

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study examined associations among neighborhood disadvantage, all-night respiratory sinus arrhythmia, fear of sleep, nightmare frequency, and sleep duration in a sample of trauma-exposed Veterans.

METHODS: Participants completed baseline assessments and slept on a mattress actigraphy system for seven nights. Neighborhood disadvantage was assessed with the Area Deprivation Index, a census-based socioeconomic index. Differences between the least and most disadvantaged groups on the sleep variables were analyzed.

RESULTS: Data were available from 37 Veterans. Residing in neighborhoods with greater disadvantage was associated with elevated fear of sleep and reduced sleep-period respiratory sinus arrhythmia. No significant differences were observed for nightmare frequency or sleep duration. A regression confirmed that neighborhood context had a significant effect on respiratory sinus arrhythmia, after controlling for other baseline sleep variables.

CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of Veterans, sleep context may increase hypervigilance in turn serving as a mechanism by which trauma-induced sleep disruptions are maintained.

Language: en

Keywords

Environment; Veterans; Actigraphy; Nightmares