1126 In-Person Expert Mattress Matcher Process Is Associated with Improved Objective Deep Sleep and Perceived Sleep

Introduction Unsubstantiated claims about the potential benefits of various mattress types can make it challenging for consumers to choose a mattress that fits their personalized needs. Services that provide information and recommendations regarding mattress selection may help solve this problem. However, more evidence and research are necessary to understand such services' potential to support better sleep. This study examined the sleep of research participants using mattresses selected during an in-store matching process compared to using their original mattresses. Methods Healthy adults (75% female; ages 27-73, mean=46) participated in a 10-week field study, using a pre-post intervention design. The intervention consisted of being guided in person through the Mattress Firm Mattress Matcher process. During the 4-week baseline period, participants used their regular mattress at home. After being matched at a store near them with a new mattress, participants slept on that mattress for 6 weeks, including a 2-week adjustment period. Sleep was measured objectively using SleepScore Max every night and by daily and pre-post self-report. Multilevel regression and paired t-tests were used to test for statistical significance. Results There were over 1,189 nights of tracked sleep across 29 participants. Objective sleep measurements showed that deep sleep improved when using the matched mattress compared to baseline, indicated by 3 metrics: deep sleep in minutes (5% increase, p=.003), deep sleep as a proportion of the night (4% relative increase; p=.030), and BodyScore (1% increase; p=.022). Improvements also were found for a variety of self-reported sleep outcomes, including feeling better able to sleep through the night without tossing and turning, waking up feeling refreshed and well-rested, feeling satisfied with sleep more often, and perceiving better overall sleep quality (all ps<.001). Additionally, compared to baseline, the matched mattress felt more comfortable, pressure relieving, supportive, and cooler (all ps<.001). Conclusion Objectively measured deep sleep and numerous aspects of self-reported sleep improved among healthy adults using a mattress selected via an expert, in-person mattress matcher process. The results suggest that this process can support sleep by helping individuals find a mattress that provides an optimal fit for their personal needs. Support (if any)