Rural/nonrural sleep duration patterns among adults in middle and older adulthood

Objectives: To document sleep duration differences between rural and nonrural adults in middle/older adulthood. Methods: Data consisted of adults aged 50-80 from the 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n = 669,978). Hierarchical multinomial logistic regression models were fit predicting self -reported short (ie, 6 or fewer hours per 24 -hour period) and long (ie, 9 or more hours per 24 -hour period) compared to normal -sleep duration (ie, 7-8 hours per 24 -hour period). Results: Rural adults aged 50+ had slightly but significantly lower levels of short sleep (30.0% vs. 30.8%), and slightly but significantly higher levels of long sleep (10.6% vs. 9.4%). In multinomial logistic models that accounted for demographics, rural adults had significantly higher levels of long sleep (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.121.21). The long -sleep differences were explained by socioeconomic measures. Conclusions: Sleep researchers should continue to investigate and conceptualize sleeping patterns and heterogeneity among rural adults. (c) 2023 National Sleep Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.