Sleep quality linked to political party affiliation

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Surprisingly strong link found between political party affiliation and sleep quality

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Sleep, a basic human need, might be more intertwined with our political views than we ever imagined. A recent study conducted in Arizona reveals that Republicans generally enjoy better sleep than Democrats and Independents. The findings were recently published in the journal Sleep Health.

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“It is an election year, which prior work shows is related to a host of stressors for many Americans. Further, there seems to be more partisan differences across aspects of life, so in this study we wanted to see if this was apparent for sleep among a sample of adults in Arizona — one of the most hotly contested swing states in recent elections,” said study authors Connor M. Sheehan and Nathan D. Martin, who are both associate professors at Arizona State University.

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The analysis revealed a distinct pattern: Republicans reported better sleep quality than both Democrats and Independents. Specifically, Republicans had about 30% lower odds of experiencing sleep difficulties compared to Democrats, even when accounting for factors like age, gender, and health.

On the other hand, the pandemic appeared to have a more pronounced effect on the sleep of Democrats and Independents. Those who identified as Democrats or Independents and who reported that their lives had changed significantly due to the pandemic were more likely to experience sleep difficulties.

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The researchers also caution that the study does not establish causality. It remains unclear whether political affiliation directly affects sleep quality or if other underlying factors, such as personality traits or lifestyle choices, play a role. For instance, individuals who identify with a particular political party might also share certain attitudes or behaviors that influence their sleep.

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