Subjective sleep inadequacy and self-rated health among homeless adults.

Objective: To examine the association between subjective sleep inadequacy and self-rated health in a sample of 244 homeless adults.

Methods: Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess associations among 4 sleep inadequacy items (days of inadequate rest or sleep, hours of sleep, days unintentionally falling asleep during daytime, and snoring) and self-rated health in analyses adjusted for age, sex, race, education, lifetime homelessness, lifetime serious mental illness, and current depression.

Results: Days of inadequate rest or sleep, fewer hours of sleep, and days unintentionally falling asleep were each significantly associated with higher odds of poor/fair self-rated health.

Conclusions: Because both inadequate sleep and poor self-rated health independently predict mortality, interventions targeting sleep quality among homeless adults are needed.