Project 466544

Approximately 30%of Canadian teens are not getting the recommended eight hours of sleep. Certain subgroups are likelier to experience sleep deprivation including girls and Hispanic and Black teens. Long-term sleep deprivation is associated with an increased risk of chronic disease such as diabetes and depression which, in turn, contribute to death and disability. There is evidence that income inequality, the gap between rich and poor in society, may play a role. One possible explanation is that increasing income inequality may worsen the insecurity of those in a community who get ;left behind, increasing the risk of mental health conditions such as depression, which are linked to sleep deprivation. Moreover, income inequality may decrease social cohesion, the connectedness among societal members, which is shown to protect against mental health conditions that can, in turn, influence sleep. However, no previous research has explored the role of income inequality on sleep deprivation in adolescents.Using data from the Cohort on Obesity, Marijuana use, Physical activity, Alcohol use, Smoking, and Sedentary behavior study and the 2016 Canadian Census Survey, the proposed research aims to address this gap in literature by (1) examining the link between income inequality and sleep duration in a sample of Canadian teens; (2) determining whether social cohesion and mental health conditions mediate this association; and (3) examining if associations differ across racial/ethnic and gender groups.By elucidating a link between income inequality and teen sleep deprivation, this study can help inform policy makers and school boards in developing interventions for reducing income inequality and sleep deprivation among teens, paving the way for improved lifetime health.