Neighborhood disadvantage is associated with sleep disturbance in a sample of trauma-exposed Veterans.

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.