Sleepy and Secluded: Sleep Disturbances are Associated with Connectedness in Early Adolescent Social Networks

Studies in adults suggest that sleep disturbances predict poorer socioemotional skills and impaired social interactions. However, little is known regarding how sleep problems are associated with social processes during adolescence, a period when both sleep neurobiology and social relationships are undergoing dramatic developmental changes. The current study examined associations among sleep disturbances and peer connectedness among a sample of middle-school students (N = 213, 11-15 years old, 57% female) using a social network approach. Findings suggested that youth with greater sleep disturbances reported having fewer friends, fewer peers rated them as friends, and were less likely to have reciprocated friendships, even after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and mental health symptoms.