Research project Sleep and social connection

Sleep and social connection are both crucial for health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, poor sleep and social disconnection are common in Sweden and around the world. A combination of poor sleep and social disconnect is likely especially detrimental, but as they are often studied separately, it is unclear how they relate to each other. Through several large studies we aim to systematically explore the relationship between sleep and social connection, focusing on sleepiness and social motivation as potential mechanisms. Learning more about the mechanisms through which they relate to each other would lay the groundwork for interventions that could be leveraged to simultaneously improve sleep, social connection, and health.
 
Across the project, social connection will be based on so-called minimal social interactions–brief engagements with strangers or acquaintances.