Journal of women's health
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The concept of sleep health (adequate sleep duration and continuity, regular timing, satisfaction with sleep, and ability to maintain wakefulness during the day) is consistent with a definition of health as more than the absence of disease. Yet past research on women's sleep focused primarily on biological influences (e.g., hormonal fluctuations) or specific sleep disorders. We reviewed the literature on sleep health in women of childbearing age from the perspectives of health promotion and the social ecological model and identified needs for future research and intervention. ⋯ Low-income women and those in ethnic and racial minority groups are at particular risk for disparities in sleep health. There is a need for research that addresses these factors and the development of interventions at the individual, family, and community levels to promote sleep health. Screening and intervention to promote health sleep and decrease sleep difficulty should be a standard of care in clinical, community, and workplace settings frequented by women.