The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant implications for both sleep and psychosocial adjustment among emerging adults. The disruptions to daily life brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing disparities in both sleep and psychosocial adjustment for individuals from socio-demographic minority groups in the United States (U.S.). Several theoretical models propose that the nature of the relationship between sleep and psychosocial adjustment is bidirectional – in other words, sleep behaviors predict one's psychosocial functioning, and in turn, one's psychosocial functioning predicts sleep behaviors. Nevertheless, there is limited longitudinal empirical evidence assessing this important relationship. Furthermore, there is a dearth of studies on this topic among emerging adults from socio-demographic minority groups. The purpose of the current mixed methods study was to explore potential bidirectional associations between sleep behaviors and various indices of psychosocial adjustment among a sample of emerging adults at university, within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Study 1 utilized a qualitative design, based on online interviews, to explore narratives on factors that affect (and are affected by) sleep behaviors, the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on sleep, and the role of self-efficacy and structural barriers in sleep behavior change. Participants were N = 14 emerging adults at university, who identified as a member of at least one socio-demographic minority group (e.g., racial-ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, first-generation, low-income). Results, based on thematic analysis, demonstrated support for perceived bidirectional associations between sleep and psychosocial adjustment (specifically in terms of academics, mental health, physical health, and social life). Emergent themes regarding the role of COVID-19 and self-efficacy in sleep change behaviors showed variable perspectives. Study 2 utilized a 2-wave longitudinal quantitative design with a larger sample of emerging adults at university (N = 619) to examine possible bidirectional relationships between sleep behaviors (i.e., sleep duration, sleep onset latency, and sleep quality) and indices of psychosocial adjustment (i.e., COVID-19 impact, general well-being, family support, and friend support). Results from an autoregressive cross-lagged model showed evidence for 3 significant unidirectional associations: general well-being predicted better sleep quality; sleep quality predicted fewer negative COVID-19 experiences; and greater family support predicted shorter sleep onset latency. Future studies should utilize mixed methods designs to examine mediators and moderators of the link between sleep and psychosocial functioning. Results from this study could be used to facilitate sleep health and address socio-demographic disparities in sleep and psychosocial adjustment for emerging adults from underrepresented communities.
"},{"label":"Degree","value":["Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors"]},{"label":"Author-supplied Keywords","value":["Sleep","Psychosocial adjustment","COVID-19 pandemic"]},{"label":"Administrative Note","value":"Drupal Node ID: 33845