Speaker
Madelynn Wellons
Graduate Student, Sociology
Duke University
Abstract
Sleep is a critical component of health; chronic sleep deficiency (even when controlling for sleep disorders or chronic conditions that cause poor sleep) has been shown to increase risks (or incidents) of developing cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, accidents (work-related and transportation e.g. car crash), reduced immune system, and all-cause mortality (Luyster et. al 2012; Carskadon 2004; Alvarez & Ayas 2007). Although a significant portion of adults across the United States do not hit their minimum sleep recommendations for their age, only 30% of young adult-aged college students get the recommended 8 hours of sleep per night for their age group (Lund et. al 2010). Diffusion of health behaviors through social networks is a commonly studied phenomenon, but there are very few studies that have examined the spread of sleep behaviors through peer networks, let alone among college students. In this presentation, I will present exploratory analyses of 7 different college student cohorts and how diffusion of sleep behaviors presents in these cohorts.