Sleep is essential for health and daily functioning, and social relationships may be a key social factor
influencing sleep, yet sleep has been understudied in the literature on social relationships and health.
This study used data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States to examine
associations between troubled sleep and family contact, social support, and strain. Results show that having
strained family relationships is associated with more troubled sleep, while supportive family relationships
are associated with less troubled sleep. Family strain is more consequential for sleep than support, and
sleep troubles are greatest when family relationships are highly strained and provide inadequate emotional
support. Family strain is also more harmful to sleep among individuals who are in frequent contact with
family members. These findings underscore the importance of focusing on both negative and positive
aspects of relationships and highlight the significance of family relationships for sleep.