A groundbreaking new study unveiled at the forthcoming SLEEP 2025 annual meeting sheds fresh light on the intricate relationship between social connectedness and sleep duration among pre-adolescent children. Conducted by Dr. Marie Gombert-Labedens, a postdoctoral researcher specializing in circadian rhythms and childhood obesity at SRI International, this observational study proposes compelling evidence that children’s sleep health is significantly influenced by their familial and social environments. With sleep duration critically linked to various aspects of child development, these findings herald a potential shift in how sleep interventions may be framed in public health strategies.
The research scrutinized a diverse cohort of nearly 5,000 children aged roughly 9 to 11 years, drawing upon data collected during the unique social dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic period in 2020. Caregiver-reported sleep duration, an accepted proxy measure, was paired with detailed surveys capturing dimensions of social connectedness including family interactions, neighborhood engagement, and technology-mediated socialization. The analysis was meticulous, adjusting for confounding variables such as age, sex, race, and household income, thereby strengthening the robustness of the observed associations.
Crucially, the study revealed that pre-teens who consistently engaged in family meals and participated in neighborhood communal activities exhibited substantially longer sleep durations compared to their peers. This insight underscores the vital role of structured social environments and routine family interactions in fostering adequate sleep hygiene. Conversely, children exposed to household conflict and emotional distancing were disproportionately represented among those reporting insufficient sleep, highlighting the potentially disruptive impact of familial discord on circadian regulation and overall sleep quality.
Moreover, an intriguing dimension to the analysis was the influence of technology-mediated social connections. While digital communication platforms have revolutionized social interaction, the research found that excessive engagement via these mediums correlated with shorter sleep duration. This outcome suggests that while technology can bridge social gaps, its overuse during pre-adolescence may interfere with natural sleep-wake cycles, potentially through mechanisms such as delayed melatonin secretion or increased cognitive arousal before bedtime.
By exploring clusters of social connectedness, the research delineated distinct social profiles related to sleep outcomes. The highest prevalence of sufficient sleep duration was documented in children experiencing high parental engagement—manifested through routine shared dinners and day planning discussions. This finding accentuates the importance of proactive parental involvement not merely as a buffer against poor sleep but as a facilitator of healthy sleep behaviors. Meanwhile, clusters characterized by excessive technology use or sparse family involvement were linked to markedly lower sleep sufficiency rates.
This study’s temporal context during the COVID-19 pandemic adds a unique layer to the findings. With social isolation measures disrupting typical interaction patterns, the importance of in-person family and neighborhood engagement may have been amplified. These results could inform future public health initiatives aimed at mitigating the pandemic’s indirect effects on child health by emphasizing strategies reinforcing familial bonds and community participation.
Dr. Gombert-Labedens noted that the correlations observed provide novel insights into potential targets for intervention. Beyond conventional advice focusing on sleep hygiene and screen time limitations, strengthening social networks might be an underutilized avenue to enhance sleep duration and quality. The intricate interplay between psychological wellbeing, social support, and sleep biology thus emerges as a promising domain for further exploration.
From a neurobiological perspective, adequate sleep in childhood is critical for optimal brain development, cognitive function, and emotional regulation. Disruptions in sleep architecture during formative years have been linked to long-term health outcomes including metabolic disorders, behavioral problems, and impaired academic performance. Therefore, identifying modifiable social determinants offers a practical pathway to bolster sleep health at a population level.
The implications extend into psychological science as well; social connectedness is a cornerstone of mental health, impacting stress regulation and mood stabilization. By demonstrating its association with sleep, this research highlights a triadic relationship among social behavior, psychological resilience, and physiological restoration. Future research can build on these findings to develop integrative interventions targeting multiple dimensions of child wellbeing simultaneously.
Importantly, the study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, underscoring the recognition of sleep and social connectedness as critical components of mental health research. The findings were recently published in an online supplement of the journal Sleep and are scheduled for presentation during the SLEEP 2025 meeting in Seattle, a premier forum co-organized by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.
As society grapples with the challenges posed by digital transformation and changing family dynamics, this research offers a timely reminder that sleep health cannot be disentangled from the social fabric in which children are embedded. It calls for a multidisciplinary approach to sleep medicine integrating social science, neuroscience, and public health policy to effectively nurture the next generation’s wellbeing.
In conclusion, the presented research heralds an exciting paradigm shift by implicating social connectedness as a potent predictor of sleep duration among pre-teen populations. It advocates for enhancing parental engagement and reducing overreliance on technology-mediated socialization as actionable strategies to promote healthy sleep. As Dr. Gombert-Labedens articulates, leveraging social networks in efforts to improve sleep may ultimately foster not only healthier sleep patterns but also broader developmental and psychological benefits.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: Social Connectedness as Predictor of Sleep in Adolescents: Prospective Analysis of ABCD Data in Covid-19 Pandemic
News Publication Date: 19-May-2025
Web References:
- https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaf090.0331
- https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.9476
- https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.5866
- https://www.sleepmeeting.org/
- https://aasm.org/
- https://www.sleepresearchsociety.org/
References:
- Abstract published in Sleep, Online Supplement, 2025
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine sleep duration guidelines
Keywords:
Sleep, Interpersonal relationships, Social connectedness, Parental engagement, Technology-mediated communication, Childhood sleep health, Circadian rhythms, COVID-19 pandemic, Behavioral psychology, Neurophysiology
