Abstract TU278: Psychosocial Factors and Sleep Health among Postpartum Women

Background: Psychosocial factors are linked to poor cardiovascular health (CVH) and elevated CVD risk through biological and behavioral pathways that may impair sleep. Postpartum (PP) women remain understudied despite this period being characterized by heightened stress and cardiovascular vulnerability. This study examined associations between psychosocial factors and sleep characteristics in PP women. Methods: PP (13), 11% low social support, and 17% high caregiver strain (CSI>7). Short sleep duration (5) by 75%, and insomnia symptoms (ISI≥8) by 50%; 5% were evening chronotype (MEQ score 20 min to fall asleep. After adjustment, depressive symptoms were associated with multiple sleep disturbances, including short sleep duration (OR:2.33, 95%CI=1.53-3.57), poor sleep quality (OR:5.71, 95%CI=3.22-10.77), and insomnia (OR:5.18, 95%CI=3.93-8.00), as well as sleep onset >20 min (OR:1.86, 95%CI=1.21-2.87) and evening chronotype (OR:2.53, 95%CI=1.04-6.56). Low social support was also associated with insomnia (OR:3.92, 95%CI=1.94-8.60). High caregiving strain was associated with poor sleep quality (OR:5.45, 95%CI=2.13-16.88). Conclusions: Among PP women, psychosocial challenges were common and strongly associated with sleep disturbances. Depression was associated with multiple adverse sleep outcomes. Low social support was associated with insomnia symptoms and high caregiving strain was associated with poor sleep quality. These findings underscore psychosocial pathways that may connect sleep and CVH in PP women, highlighting the potential for interventions to improve CVH during this vulnerable period.