Exploring Sleep Value: Distinct Profiles and Individual Differences

Abstract

Sleep value is the relative worth individuals assign to sleep. We previously found that individual differences in several sleep value subfactors relate to demographic, health, and sleep variables. Given the pivotal role values play in health behavior and the positive association between sleep value and sleep disturbance, individual differences in sleep value may influence vulnerability/resilience to sleep and circadian disturbance. This survey study (N=455) aimed to establish the latent factor structure of sleep value and identify whether sleep value profiles relate to demographic and sleep characteristics. Factor analysis on the Sleep Valuation Item Bank 2.0 identified five factors (wanting, prioritizing, devaluing, appreciating, and preferring). Latent profile analyses revealed five distinct sleep value profiles (unconcerned, appreciative, devalue, ambivalent priority, and concerned). Depression, sleep disturbance, and sleep-related impairment were highest among those who highly value sleep (concerned profile) and lowest among those who neither value nor devalue sleep (unconcerned profile). Findings suggest sleep value is a complex aspect of sleep health rather than a “more is better” construct and highlight that individual differences in sleep value profiles, may be associated with vulnerability/resilience to sleep disturbance.