Spatial Heterogeneity of Disturbed Sleep in Taiwan from 2001 to 2005

Sleep loss is becoming more prevalent in both developed and developing countries. Evidence accumulated over 40 years indicates a strong association between short and poor sleep and all-cause mortality. People with disadvantaged socioeconomic status present more stress and therefore serious sleep problems. Neighborhood disadvantage can double the health risks of poor sleep for low-income people who live in disadvantaged areas. This study examines the relative effect of individual economic hardship, psychological stress and neighborhood disadvantages on the chance of being poor sleep from 2001 to 2005. It also explores the geographical variations of neighborhood unemployment rate on average prevalence of poor sleep controlling for individual-level SES. Multilevel models and geographically weighted regression (GWR) are used. National representative data (SDTS, 2001 and 2005) is used. Poor sleep is defined by insomnia and restless sleep. Women reported more insomnia and more restless sleep than men. This study found double jeopardy of individual and neighborhood economic hardships on the risk of poor sleep. Certain area of Taiwan has more adverse consequences from neighborhood unemployment rate. As poor sleep increases from 2001 to 2005, it becomes more spatial clustering from 2001 to 2005.