Sex differences in associations between alcohol use and sleep in mid-to-late life

OBJECTIVES

To examine associations between alcohol use and sleep in middled-aged/older adults and to test sex as a moderator of this relationship.

METHODS

Participants were 183 adults (46% female) ages 50 and above who consumed alcohol in the past year. Linear regressions tested sex as a moderator of associations between alcohol use and sleep parameters. Alcohol use was measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Overall sleep health and sleep quality were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and pre-sleep arousal was assessed using the Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale.

RESULTS

Overall, 11% of participants screened positive for hazardous drinking (AUDIT scores of 7+/8+ for women/men), and 59% reported poor overall sleep health (scores >5 on the PSQI). Alcohol use was not associated with overall sleep health (B = -0.25, p = .08) or pre-sleep arousal (B = 0.15, p = .64). However, contrary to hypotheses, more hazardous drinking was associated with better subjective sleep quality, only among women (B = -0.08, p = .009). Alcohol use was not associated with sleep quality among men (B = 0.01, p = .58). Associations remained significant when controlling for age, symptoms of anxiety and depression, body mass index, use of sleep medication, number of medical conditions, and chronic pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Among middle-aged and older adults, alcohol use is more strongly associated with sleep patterns among women than men, when assessed concurrently (i.e., at the same time point). Findings support the need for further consideration of sex differences in associations between alcohol use and sleep.

The multiplicative effect of stress and sleep on academic cognitions in Latino college students

Latino students are increasingly represented in higher education within the United States, but remain one of the groups least likely to graduate from a four-year institution. Stress and sleep are factors that have been implicated in students' academic success. This study examined concurrent and longitudinal interactive effects of stress and sleep on academic cognitions in a sample of 196 Latino students (M_age = 18.95; 64.4% female) in their second and third semester of college. Stress and actigraphy-measured sleep (duration, efficiency, midpoint, midpoint-variability) were measured in the second semester and academic cognitions (engagement, motivation, self-efficacy) were measured in the second and third semesters. Structural equation modeling revealed that higher stress was concurrently related to lower academic cognitions for students with consistently delayed sleep timings (e.g., later average midpoints) and longitudinally related to reduced academic functioning for students with lower sleep efficiency. These findings can inform programs that target stress-reduction and sleep hygiene among incoming college students.