Examining Relationship-Level Predictors of Individual-Level Health in Long Distance Relationships

Long distance relationships (LDR) are increasingly common, particularly among postsecondary students. The geographic separation inherent in LDR, and related relationship factors, may have implications for the health of individuals in LDR. However, little current work examines these potential associations. The current study examined associations between relationship-level predictors (satisfaction, stress, maintenance) and individual-level health (e.g., anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, fatigue) and health behaviors (e.g., alcohol and cigarette use, sex) in LDR. Participants ( N = 100) were postsecondary students and romantic partners of postsecondary students, recruited from October 2018–June 2019, who completed an online survey on relationships and health. Here, we report sample characteristics; correlations between key study variables; and, results of stepwise hierarchical regressions testing whether relationship-level variables predicted individual-level health. Results indicated that relationship satisfaction and relationship stress predicted self-reported health in multiple domains, in the expected directions; but, neither relationship satisfaction nor relationship stress predicted health behaviors. Relationship maintenance predicted neither self-reported health nor health behaviors. Overall, some, but not all, relationship-level variables influenced some, but not all, individual-level health variables among postsecondary students and partners of postsecondary students in LDR. Future work can clarify relationship-level predictors of individual-level health behaviors in postsecondary students, among whom LDR are prevalent.

211 Pandemic-Related Sleep Changes Associated with COVID-Related General, Financial, Food, Housing, Family and Relationship Stress

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruption and stress for people of all ages and circumstances around the world. This study investigates the relationship between general and specific stressors and various dimensions of sleep health. Methods A sample of N=419 US adults completed online surveys about sleep and COVID-19 experiences. Participants were asked whether they experienced increased general, financial, food, housing, family and relationship stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were also asked whether they experienced a more regular schedule, improved sleep, worsened sleep, more early insomnia, more middle-of-the-night insomnia, more daytime sleepiness, and more naps due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ordinal logistic regressions with sleep change as outcome and stress variable as predictor were adjusted for age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Results COVID-19-related general, financial, food, housing, family, and relationship stress were all associated with a decreased likelihood of maintaining a more regular schedule (oOR=0.52-0.67, all p<0.001) and improved sleep (oOR=0.56-0.67, all p<0.001). They were also all associated with a greater likelihood of worsened sleep (oOR=1.48-2.41, all p<0.001), early insomnia (oOR=1.63-1.85, all p<0.001), middle-of-the-night insomnia (oOR=1.40-2.00, all p<0.001), and daytime sleepiness (oOR=1.58-2.07, all p<0.001). Increased napping was also associated with more COVID-related financial, food, and housing stress (oOR=1.33-1.55, all p<0.005). Conclusion Regular sleep schedules can be disrupted by stressors directly, or by the anxiety that so often accompanies stress. Stressed individuals may experience increased difficulty falling asleep, or more nighttime arousals, or find themselves waking up earlier than usual, all as a result of ruminating thoughts, stress-induced nightmares, or outside disturbances. Disruption to sleep at night often results in increased daytime sleepiness and fatigue, with a higher chance of napping. This study reports the significant association of some of these with COVID-19 pandemic-related stress. More individuals now find themselves working from home with greater flexibility in their schedules, but this has not necessarily led to better sleep. The impact of the pandemic on various health outcomes as a result of stress is still to be revealed. Support (if any):

Don’t Fear Conflict: Relationship Stress Beliefs in Friend, Familial, and Romantic Relationships

Believing that stress can have positive effects (i.e., having a stress-is-enhancing mindset) has been shown to mitigate the negative impact of stressful experiences on mental health. However, the impact of mindset about stress and conflict specifically experienced within relationships (i.e., relationship stress beliefs) has been relatively unexamined. This pilot study (N = 120) examined the associations of relationship stress beliefs with perceived relationship quality. Relationship stress beliefs were also evaluated as moderators of the associations between relationship quality and emotional health. Beliefs about the destructive nature of conflict was significantly correlated with measures of relationship quality (rs = −0.25 to −0.52; ps < .05). Across friend, family, and romantic relationships, beliefs about the destructive nature of conflict was also the most consistent moderator of associations between relationship quality and emotional health. Relationship strain seems to particularly affect the well-being of those who believe that conflict is debilitating rather than believing that conflict can be productive.