Long before the alarm sounds, many Americans lose quality rest to the quiet worries that surface after dark—whether about bills, the next paycheck or job stability.
New research from Rice University highlights a measurable pathway connecting economic stress to poor sleep.
According to the study, bedtime stress is a key link between financial worries and poor sleep. Behaviors such as lying awake feeling tense, replaying work problems, or planning tomorrow interfere with the ability to unwind and sleep well.
Published in the Journal of Business and Psychology, the study followed full-time Army and Air National Guard members over nine months.
Researchers measured financial stress, bedtime stress behaviors, and sleep quality through self-reports and actigraph devices. They found that financial stress predicted bedtime stress, which in turn predicted insomnia symptoms and daytime fatigue.
The study found financial stress disrupts sleep across income levels—not just among low-income individuals. Stress behaviors before bed lead to reduced sleep quality and increased impairments during the day. Even individuals who seem financially stable can suffer poor sleep due to internal financial worries.
Organizations and policymakers play a critical role in alleviating stressors. Strategies include:
Competitive pay and benefits
Supervisor support and flexible scheduling
Financial literacy and sleep hygiene education
Access to affordable housing, food, and healthcare
Scientists suggest to have good sleep, people need to build a consistent sleep routine, keep phones out of reach at night, limit screen time before bed, and create a relaxing wind-down process. These habits can help reduce bedtime stress and improve sleep quality.
Lead researcher Rebecca Brossoit and graduate student Destiny Castro emphasize the importance of addressing economic and sleep health together to help people thrive.
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