Online Program

331966
Sudden Loss of Net Worth and Insomnia in Late Middle Age: Results from the Health and Retirement Study


Wednesday, November 4, 2015 : 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.

Lindsay R. Pool, Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI
Sarah A. Burgard, Department of Sociology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Belinda L. Needham, Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI
Carlos F. Mendes de Leon, Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI
Background:

Negative wealth shock, i.e., sudden loss of net worth, is a stressful life event and often an antecedent of ongoing financial strain.  Stressful life events and financial strain are associated with poor sleep, but the relationship between negative wealth shock (which captures both of these exposures) and insomnia is unknown.  We used data from a nationally representative sample of persons in late middle age (51-64) to examine the association between negative wealth shock and insomnia.

Methods:

Wealth shock and insomnia were analyzed in the 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2010 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N= 17,470). A negative wealth shock was defined as a loss of 75% or more of net worth between two consecutive waves.   Insomnia was defined as having 3-4 of the following insomnia symptoms: difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, early morning awakening, and not feeling well-rested.  The association between negative wealth shock and insomnia was assessed using a pooled logistic regression model, controlling for repeated measurement.   A wealth shock-by-gender interaction term assessed possible effect modification.

Results:

6.3% of the sample experienced negative wealth shock during the follow-up period (N=1,103).  After adjustment for sociodemographic covariates, negative wealth shock was associated with greater odds of insomnia (aOR = 1.28, 95%CI = 1.13-1.44, p<0.001).  Further adjustment for health-related variables yielded an attenuated, but still significant association (aOR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.01-1.30, p=0.038).   Wealth shock-by-gender interactions were not statistically significant, suggesting that, for men and women, wealth shock has the same association with insomnia.

Conclusion:

The study suggests that negative wealth shock in late middle age is associated with an increased risk of insomnia, independent of other factors related to wealth changes and health, including income, employment status, marital status, number of chronic conditions, and disability.  These results align with previous studies suggesting associations between sudden loss of net worth and psychological health, and underscore the public health relevance of economic status.

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Analyze the association between negative wealth shock and insomnia. Discuss the public health implications of negative wealth shock in late middle age.

Keyword(s): Aging, Stress

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am social epidemiologist with specific interests in the role of socioeconomics and health in late middle age. I am currently a PhD candidate in epidemiologic science; this research was performed as part of dissertation work.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.