SLEEP AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AMONG YOUNG ADULTS IN DELAWARE

Abstract

Sleep and social determinants of health (SDOH) are important contributors to overall health, yet their relationship among college students remains unclear. This study aimed to assess sleep health, as well as examine associations between SDOH and sleep outcomes in Delaware young adults. Using a micro-longitudinal design, 106 college students (aged 18-25) completed surveys, sleep diaries, and seven days of wrist actigraphy monitoring. Average objective sleep duration was 8.1 ± 1.1 hours per night, indicating that most students met recommended sleep guidelines despite late and variable sleep schedules. Subjective measures suggested lower perceived sleep duration and moderate levels of poor sleep quality, even though objective sleep efficiency was generally within acceptable ranges. Although 17% of participants experienced food insecurity and some reported barriers to healthcare access, most demonstrated relatively stable SDOH. Contrary to the hypothesis, no statistically significant associations were found between SDOH and sleep duration, timing, or efficiency. These findings suggest that Delaware college students generally obtain adequate sleep and that measured SDOH may not relate to sleep in this population. Future research should examine these relationships in larger and more diverse samples and further explore sleep variability and quality among young adults.