Perceived Financial Hardship and Sleep in an Adult Population-based Cohort: The Mediating Role of Psychosocial and Lifestyle-related Factors

Background: Social inequalities in sleep have been reported, but there is less research on the mechanisms underlying this association. This study investigates the relationship between financial hardship and sleep within the general adult population, focusing on the mediating effects of psychosocial and lifestyle-related factors.

Methods: We used data from the Specchio cohort, a population-based study in Geneva, Switzerland, initiated in December 2020. Perceived financial hardship and sleep outcomes (insomnia, sleep quality, and sleep duration) were assessed by questionnaire in 2020 to 2021. Counterfactual mediation analysis was conducted to examine the extent to which perceived financial hardship impacts sleep through psychosocial (psychological distress and loneliness) and lifestyle-related (weight, smoking, and physical inactivity) pathways. Models were adjusted for age, sex, education, living alone, and chronic disease.

Results: Among 4388 participants, those experiencing financial hardship had a greater risk of insomnia (odds ratio: 2.11; 95% confidence interval: 1.70-2.61), poor sleep quality (odds ratio: 1.69; 95%confidence interval: 1.41-2.02), and not meeting sleep duration guidelines (odds ratio: 1.40; 95% confidence interval: 1.18-1.66) compared to those without financial difficulties. Psychosocial factors explained 40% of the relationship of financial hardship with insomnia, 35% of the relationship with poor sleep quality, and 10% of the association with suboptimal sleep duration. The contribution of lifestyle-related factors was 8%, 12%, and 17%, respectively.

Conclusion: Perceived financial hardship is a significant predictor of poor sleep, and this association is mediated by psychosocial and, to a lesser extent, lifestyle-related factors. These findings highlight the need for integrative approaches addressing social inequalities in sleep.