Determinants of postpartum sleep duration and sleep efficiency in minority women

Study Objectives To examine demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral determinants of postpartum sleep duration and sleep efficiency among a cohort of black and Latina women. Methods Data were from 148 women (67% black, 32% Latina) at 5 months postpartum, recruited from an academic medical center in Philadelphia. Relevant demographic, psychosocial and behavioral predictors were assessed via questionnaire. Nocturnal sleep was objectively measured for 1 week using wrist actigraphy. Sleep duration was examined as a continuous variable and in categories (<7 versus >= 7 h per night); sleep efficiency was examined as a continuous variable. Independent multiple linear regression models were built to evaluate significant determinants of sleep. Results Adjusted models revealed that breastfeeding, having a bedtime after midnight, and being employed were associated with shorter sleep duration (-25-33 min, all p < 0.05). Multiparity, being unmarried, being employed, breastfeeding, having a bedtime after midnight, bedsharing, and responding to infant awakenings by getting up immediately rather than waiting a few minutes to see if the infant fell back asleep, were all significant determinants of sleeping <7 h per night (OR varying: 2.29-4.59, all p < 0.05). Bedsharing was the only variable identified from the multiple regression model that associated with poorer sleep efficiency (-3.8%, p < 0.05). Conclusions Findings may inform interventions for improving postpartum sleep in socioeconomically disadvantaged, racial/ethnic minority postpartum women.

Automated summary

The study found that breastfeeding, having a bedtime after midnight, and being employed were associated with shorter sleep duration, while multiparity, being unmarried, being employed, breastfeeding, bedsharing, and responding to infant awakenings by getting up immediately were significant determinants of sleeping less than 7 hours per night. Bedsharing was the only variable identified from the multiple regression model that associated with poorer sleep efficiency.