DOES PARTICIPATING IN SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IMPROVE THE SLEEP OF OLDER ADULTS?

Food insecurity among lower income adults is associated with adverse health outcomes including sleep disorders. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2005-2008, we explored the association between participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a safety net program addressing food insecurity, and sleep outcomes among older adults. Total sleep duration (<7 hours inadequate sleep, ≥7 hours adequate sleep) and sleep latency (10-20 mins normal sleep latency, ≤ 9 mins and ≥ 21mins abnormal sleep latency) were available for 805 participants 50 years and older and eligible for SNAP participation (≤130% federal poverty level). SNAP participation (yes/no) was assessed for the previous year. Sleep inadequacy was higher among SNAP participants (46.5%) compared to SNAP-eligible non-participants (36.3%), whereas the corresponding numbers for abnormal sleep latency were 71.8% and 64.1%. Binary logistic regression analysis showed no significant association between SNAP participation and inadequate sleep duration (OR=1.19, 95% CI 0.84-1.70) after adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, and food security status. SNAP participation was also not associated with abnormal sleep latency (adjusted OR=1.49, 95% CI 1.00-2.23). SNAP participation was not protective against poor sleep outcomes among a sample of low-income, at risk of food insecurity older adults.