Relative concerns and sleep behavior

Area of Science:

• Socioeconomics
• Sleep Science
• Behavioral Economics

Background:

• Income's impact on health is well-researched, but the role of relative income concerns remains less understood.
• Sleep quality and quantity are crucial determinants of overall health and well-being.
• Social comparison theory suggests individuals evaluate themselves by comparing to others, influencing their perceptions and behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between relative income concerns and sleep quantity and quality.
• To determine if absolute income levels have a similar effect on sleep.
• To explore the heterogeneity of this relationship across different demographic and socioeconomic groups.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 6-year German panel dataset on sleep behavior.
• Employed econometric analyses to assess the relationship between relative income and sleep metrics.
• Conducted robustness checks using various measures of relative concerns, reference groups, and income inequality.

Main Results:

• A substantial negative association was found between relative income and both sleep quantity (hours) and sleep quality (satisfaction).
• No significant association was observed between absolute income and sleep quantity or quality.
• A 10% increase in others' income decreased sleep by 6-8 minutes weekly, with a more pronounced effect (10-12 minutes) on upward comparers.

Conclusions:

• Relative income concerns, rather than absolute income, significantly affect sleep patterns.
• The findings underscore the psychological impact of social comparison on fundamental health behaviors like sleep.
• Interventions addressing socioeconomic disparities and social comparison may improve public sleep health.