Sleepy and lonely: Illuminating the relationship between sleep and social connection

Sleep and social connection are both crucial for health and wellbeing.

A combination of poor sleep and social disconnect is likely especially detrimental, but how they relate to each other is still unclear.

Through three large studies we aim to systematically explore the relationship between the two, focusing on sleepiness and social motivation as potential mechanisms.

Across the project, social connection will be based on so-called minimal social interactions–brief engagements with strangers or acquaintances.Study 1, a global cross-sectional questionnaire, will delineate the connections between sleep, sleepiness, and social connection across cultures.Study 2, a controlled sleep-restriction experiment, will determine the role of sleepiness and social motivation in social interactions.Study 3, a longitudinal social intervention, will establish the sleep- and health effects of a simple manipulation of social connection.The project is expected to take four years due to the rich data collection.

It will integrate the expertise of the international research team, including sleep, social relationships, minimal social interactions, health, multimethod designs, and statistical analysis.Considering the prevalence of both sleep disturbances and loneliness, in Sweden and around the world, it is imperative to understand their connection in order to improve research and interventions to benefit health.