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. 2022 Oct;30(10):2023-2033.
doi: 10.1002/oby.23513. Epub 2022 Sep 5.

The impact of social rhythm and sleep disruptions on waist circumference after job loss: A prospective 18-month study

Patricia L Haynes  1 , George W Howe  2 , Graciela E Silva  3 , Stuart F Quan  4   5 , Cynthia A Thomson  1 , David A Glickenstein  6 , Duane Sherrill  7 , Devan N Gengler  1 , April Yingst  1 , Candace Mayer  1 , Darlynn M Rojo-Wissar  1   8 , Ume Kobayashi  1 , Matthew Hoang  1
Affiliations

The impact of social rhythm and sleep disruptions on waist circumference after job loss: A prospective 18-month study

Patricia L Haynes et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: This study prospectively examined change in waist circumference (WC) as a function of daily social rhythms and sleep in the aftermath of involuntary job loss. It was hypothesized that disrupted social rhythms and fragmented/short sleep after job loss would independently predict gains in WC over 18 months and that resiliency to WC gain would be conferred by the converse.

Methods: Eligible participants (n = 191) completed six visits that included standardized measurements of WC. At the baseline visit, participants completed the social rhythm metric and daily sleep diary and wore an actigraph on their nondominant wrist each day for a period of 2 weeks.

Results: When controlling for obesity and other covariates, WC trajectories decreased for individuals with more consistent social rhythms, more activities in their sdiocial rhythms, and higher sleep quality after job loss. WC trajectories did not change for individuals with lower scores on these indicators.

Conclusions: The frequency and consistency of social rhythms after job loss play a key role in WC loss. These findings support the implementation of social rhythm interventions after job loss, a potentially sensitive time for the establishment of new daily routines that have an impact on metabolic health.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Study Flowchart.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Changes in Predicted Waist Circumference (WC) over Time by Initial Social Rhythm Metric (SRM) Scores when Controlling for Obesity Effects (BMI > 30).
Higher SRM scores are initial SRM scores that are higher than the initial mean; higher scores mean more consistent social rhythms. Lower SRM scores are initial SRM scores that are lower than the initial mean; lower scores mean less consistent social rhythms. Individuals with lower SRM scores had a lower instantaneous rate of change in WC over time and greater reversal in rate around Month 11.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Changes in Waist Circumference (WC) over Time by Low (−1 SD), Moderate (Mean), and High (+1 SD) Initial Activity Level Index (ALI) Scores when Controlling for Obesity Effects (BMI > 30).
The probing of simple slope effects demonstrated that WC significantly reduces over time in individuals with high, initial levels of activities in their daily routine (+1 SD, dashed line); a similar trend (p = .07) was apparent among those with moderate, initial ALI scores (0 SD, solid line). Individuals with low, initial levels of activities in their daily routine (−1 SD, dotted line) experienced negligible changes in WC over time.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.. Changes in Waist Circumference over Time by Low (−1 SD), Moderate (Mean), and High (+1 SD) Daily Sleep Diary (DSD) Sleep Quality Ratings when Controlling for Obesity Effects (BMI > 30).
The probing of simple slope effects demonstrated negligible reductions in WC for low (−1 SD, dotted line) or moderate (0 SD, solid line) initial sleep quality ratings. An initial high level of sleep quality (+1 SD, dashed line) was associated (p = .06) with a reduction in WC over time.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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