Observed Relationship Behaviors and Sleep in Military Veterans and Their Partners

Abstract

Background Emerging research has begun to examine associations between relationship functioning and sleep. However, these studies have largely relied on self-reported evaluations of relationships and/or of sleep, which may be vulnerable to bias. Purpose To examine associations between relationship functioning and sleep in military couples. This is the first research to examine associations between observed relationship behaviors and subjective and polysomnographically-measured sleep in a sample at-risk for both sleep and relationship problems. Methods The sample included 35 military veterans and their spouses/partners. Marital functioning was coded from a videotaped conflict interaction. Analyses focused on behavioral codes of hostility and relationship-enhancing attributions. Sleep was assessed via self-report and in-home polysomnography. Results Greater hostility was associated with poorer sleep efficiency for oneself (b=−0.195, p=.013). In contrast, greater relationship-enhancing attributions were associated with higher percentages of Stage N3 sleep (b=0.239, p=.028). Partners’ hostility was also positively associated with higher percentages of stage N3 sleep (b=0.272, p=.010). Neither hostility nor relationship-enhancing attributions was associated with self-reported sleep quality, percentage of REM sleep, or total sleep time. Conclusions Both partners’ positive and negative behaviors during conflict interactions related to sleep. These findings highlight the role that effective communication and conflict resolution skills may play in shaping not only the marital health of veterans and their spouses, but the physical health of both partners as well. Understanding the links between relationship functioning and sleep may be important targets of intervention in the aftermath of war.

“A well spent day brings happy sleep”: A dyadic study of capitalization support in military-connected couples.

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The interplay between relationship effectiveness, life stress, and sleep: A prospective study

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“…This growing literature supports the prediction that, over time , people involved in high‐quality, more stable relationships should experience better sleep outcomes than those involved in low‐quality, less stable relationships. Yet prior research on relationships and sleep has focused on either one‐time assessments within a current relationship (e.g., conflict behaviors in a relationship; Fillo et al, ) or over‐time assessments of a single relationship construct (e.g., changes in relationship status; Troxel et al, ). One possibility, therefore, is that associations between relationships and sleep may partly reflect ongoing patterns of relationship experiences and individual competencies rather than solely reflecting the nature and qualities of one's current relationship.…”