Sleep's Role in Society and Policy

What difference could an extra hour of sleep make in your life? Studies show that the gap between getting just enough sleep and getting too little sleep may affect your health, your mood, your weight, your work, and your relationships. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls sleep deprivation “a public health epidemic.” Sleep deprivation is estimated to cost U.S. businesses more than $150 billion per year in absences, accidents, and lost productivity. In this podcast, learn about current RAND research on sleep and the social environment and why it should factor into such policy decisions as setting school start times, scheduling workers' shifts, and ensuring the health and readiness of U.S. military personnel and their families.

Featured Speaker

Wendy Troxel, Behavioral & Social Scientist, RAND Corporation