Employment, income, and sleep in South Africa: An actor-partner interdependence model approach

We analyze the relationship between employment status, income, and sleep in South Africa to address two research questions: (1) How does employment status influence the sleep quantity of the individual and their partner? (2) How does income impact the sleep quantity of the individual and their partner?

Using data from 1600 Black African couples in the South African Time Use Study, we employ the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model to investigate the relationship between employment status, income, and sleep in couples. We categorize nighttime sleep into three categories: recommended sleep (7-9 hours), short sleep (<7 hours), and long sleep (>9 hours).

Employed individuals were more likely to get the recommended amount of sleep and less likely to experience long sleep. However, men whose wives are employed are almost twice as likely as men whose wives are unemployed to experience short sleep, and they experience 47% lower risk of long sleep. Men with a medium level of income have a higher risk of short sleep than those with low income, while those in the highest income category are more likely to get the recommended amount of sleep.

These results highlight the intricate dynamics between managing employment demands and securing economic stability for both men and women in the context of high unemployment and shifting gender norms.