Unveiling the Hidden Pandemic: Sleep Inequity and Its Far-Reaching Consequences - MODULE 2
Understanding Sleep Disparities: Who is Affected and Why
Sleep: A Human Right, Not a Privilege
Sleep is essential to human well-being, yet for many, a good night’s rest remains out of reach. Sleep disparities—inequities in sleep quality and duration—affect marginalized populations disproportionately, revealing a pressing human rights issue often overlooked in public health discussions (Covington et al., 2022; Lee, 2015).
Who is Most Affected?
Certain communities face far greater sleep challenges than others. Low-income households, communities of color, shift workers, and people experiencing homelessness are among the most affected. These groups often grapple with chronic sleep deprivation, leading to long-term health consequences like heart disease, diabetes, and mental health issues (Lee, 2015; Covington et al., 2022). Children in disadvantaged communities are also at risk, impacting their development, academic performance, and overall well-being (Covington et al., 2022).
Why Do These Disparities Exist?
The root causes of sleep disparities are deeply embedded in the social determinants of health. Environmental stressors like overcrowded housing, excessive noise, and unsafe neighborhoods can disrupt sleep. Economic instability forces many to work irregular shifts or multiple jobs, cutting into valuable rest time. Marginalized communities also face unequal access to healthcare, making it harder to address sleep disorders like insomnia or sleep apnea (Covington et al., 2022; Hale & Troxel, 2018). The impact on children’s sleep health is especially alarming, with disparities emerging as early as the first year of life (Covington et al., 2022).
Addressing Sleep as a Human Rights Issue
Everyone deserves the right to restorative sleep, yet disparities persist. Addressing these gaps requires policy changes that tackle the root causes of inequity—affordable housing, fair wages, and access to healthcare (Lee, 2015). It is imperative to frame sleep disparities as a human rights issue, as sleep deprivation has been recognized as a form of cruel and unusual punishment, particularly when it is used as a method of coercion (Tabor & Peeler, 2024). Furthermore, initiatives like nurse-led early childhood sleep health programs have been shown to reduce disparities in sleep quality among vulnerable populations (Covington et al., 2022). Policymakers must act to guarantee equitable access to sleep health resources as a matter of human rights, fostering well-being for all individuals regardless of their socio-economic status (Hale & Troxel, 2018).
References
Covington, L. B., Aditi, S., Brewer, B., Blair, R., Duffy, I., Laurenceau, J.-P., ... & Patterson, F. (2022). Concordance in caregiver and child sleep health metrics among families experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage: A pilot study. Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk, 13(1), Article 2.
Hale, L., & Troxel, W. (2018). Embracing the school start later movement: Adolescent sleep deprivation as a public health and social justice problem. American Journal of Public Health, 108(5), 599-600.
Lee, C. J. (2015). Sleep: A human rights issue. Sleep Health, 1(1), 7-9.
Tabor, C., & Peeler, K. R. (2024). Sleep is a human right, and its deprivation is torture. AMA Journal of Ethics, 26(10), 784-794.
A JOINT initiative BY
AUTHORS
Dr. Marty Martin, PsyD, MPH, MS, MA
Board Member, Center for Healthcare Innovation
Joseph Gaspero is the CEO and Co-Founder of CHI. He is a healthcare executive, strategist, and researcher. He co-founded CHI in 2009 to be an independent, objective, and interdisciplinary research and education institute for healthcare. Joseph leads CHI’s research and education initiatives focusing on including patient-driven healthcare, patient engagement, clinical trials, drug pricing, and other pressing healthcare issues. He sets and executes CHI’s strategy, devises marketing tactics, leads fundraising efforts, and manages CHI’s Management team. Joseph is passionate and committed to making healthcare and our world a better place. His leadership stems from a wide array of experiences, including founding and operating several non-profit and for-profit organizations, serving in the U.S. Air Force in support of 2 foreign wars, and deriving expertise from time spent in industries such as healthcare, financial services, and marketing. Joseph’s skills include strategy, management, entrepreneurship, healthcare, clinical trials, diversity & inclusion, life sciences, research, marketing, and finance. He has lived in six countries, traveled to over 30 more, and speaks 3 languages, all which help him view business strategy through the prism of a global, interconnected 21st century. Joseph has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois at Chicago. When he’s not immersed in his work at CHI, he spends his time snowboarding backcountry, skydiving, mountain biking, volunteering, engaging in MMA, and rock climbing.