A cross-national study examining social determinant factors on short sleep between the U.S. and Canada.
4 affiliations
- 1Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada. [email protected].
- 2Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada.
- 3Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M5S 1V4, Canada.
- 4OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, 1810 SW 5th Avenue, Portland, OR, 97201, USA.
Abstract
Background
Sleep is essential for optimal health as short sleep is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and early mortality. One-third of adults in the U.S. and Canada do not receive sufficient sleep. Canadian adults are typically healthier than U.S. adults and inequities in sleep may be a critical factor which may account for cross-national differences in health. Sleep is also patterned by social determinant factors; however, limited research examines which social determinant factors are associated with short sleep patterns between the U.S. and Canada. Our study begins to address this underdeveloped area of research.Methods
We used two nationally representative cross-sectional data sources in the U.S. (National Health Interview Survey or NHIS; N = 47,945) and Canada (Canadian Community Health Survey or CCHS; N = 41,468) to examine social determinant factors (age, race/ethnicity, education, income, marital status, living with children) and short sleep. We estimated log-binomial regression models, stratified by sex.Results
In 2016-2017, about one third of adults in the NHIS and one half of adults in the CCHS reported short sleep. Among adults in the NHIS, respondents aged 45-64 years, race/ethnicity (Black, Other, and Hispanic/Latinx adults among females only), having low-income status, unmarried, and living with children, were all associated with short sleep. These factors were also associated with short sleep among adults in the CCHS; however, these relationships were more attenuated. The prevalence for short sleep was higher across all factors by sex among adults in the NHIS than in the CCHS dataset, with the exception of non-White female adults in Canada.Conclusions
The role of social determinant factors may be more attenuated for short sleep among adults in Canada than in the U.S. potentially due to a more generous social welfare system and also a publicly funded healthcare system. Additional investigations are needed to examine short sleep inequities across the U.S. and Canada.
Related
- The Use of Situational Judgement Tests for Paramedic Selection in Canada: A National Cross-Sectional Survey
- Closing the Gaps in Heart Failure Care: A Call for a National Strategy in Canada
- Examining Regulatory Classifications and Social Determinants of Health in Telehealth-Mediated ADHD Prescription Fulfillment Barriers
- Examining the Relationship Between Perceived Social Satisfaction, Depression, and Anxiety for People With Multiple Sclerosis Participating in Group Treatment Modalities
- Pet-inclusive housing as a social determinant of health: a multi-stakeholder qualitative study of rental policy and health equity
BibTeX
@article{tsuchiya2026crossnational,
title = {{A cross-national study examining social determinant factors on short sleep between the U.S. and Canada.}},
author = {Kazumi Tsuchiya and Rachel Giblon and Harry Owen Taylor and Aya A Mitani and Anita Minh and Bernie Yeung},
journal = {BMC public health},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28793-0},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968039},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A cross-national study examining social determinant factors on short sleep between the U.S. and Canada.
AU - Kazumi Tsuchiya
AU - Rachel Giblon
AU - Harry Owen Taylor
AU - Aya A Mitani
AU - Anita Minh
AU - Bernie Yeung
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/05
JO - BMC public health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-28793-0
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968039
AB - Background Sleep is essential for optimal health as short sleep is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and early mortality. One-third of adults in the U.S. and Canada do not receive sufficient sleep. Canadian adults are typically healthier than U.S. adults and inequities in sleep may be a critical factor which may account for cross-national differences in health. Sleep is also patterned by social determinant factors; however, limited research examines which social determinant factors are associated with short sleep patterns between the U.S. and Canada. Our study begins to address this underdeveloped area of research.Methods We used two nationally representative cross-sectional data sources in the U.S. (National Health Interview Survey or NHIS; N = 47,945) and Canada (Canadian Community Health Survey or CCHS; N = 41,468) to examine social determinant factors (age, race/ethnicity, education, income, marital status, living with children) and short sleep. We estimated log-binomial regression models, stratified by sex.Results In 2016-2017, about one third of adults in the NHIS and one half of adults in the CCHS reported short sleep. Among adults in the NHIS, respondents aged 45-64 years, race/ethnicity (Black, Other, and Hispanic/Latinx adults among females only), having low-income status, unmarried, and living with children, were all associated with short sleep. These factors were also associated with short sleep among adults in the CCHS; however, these relationships were more attenuated. The prevalence for short sleep was higher across all factors by sex among adults in the NHIS than in the CCHS dataset, with the exception of non-White female adults in Canada.Conclusions The role of social determinant factors may be more attenuated for short sleep among adults in Canada than in the U.S. potentially due to a more generous social welfare system and also a publicly funded healthcare system. Additional investigations are needed to examine short sleep inequities across the U.S. and Canada.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -