0824 Putting a Price on Sleep: Two Distinct Ways People Value Sleep Gains and Losses
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction Money is a central system for expressing value in modern society, extending even to health and life. We previously identified five broad factors of sleep value using the Sleep Value Item Bank (SVIB-2.0) —Wanting, Appreciating, Prioritizing, Preferring, and Devaluing—but how these relate to the monetary value of sleep remains unknown. Using a novel Monetary Sleep Value Questionnaire (MSQ), we examined how demographic and sleep-value factors relate to the monetary worth individuals assign to gaining or losing sleep. Methods This secondary analysis used data from the SRVIV survey study. Participants (N=455) across the continental US completed demographics questions (age: M=45±17; 53% female; 82% White; Education: Mdn=some college; 50% married), the SVIB-2.0, and the MSQ. The MSQ included eight self-report items assessing how much participants would need to be paid to lose increasing amounts of sleep and eight items assessing how much they would pay for increasing amounts of guaranteed sleep quality (each ranging from one hour to one hour nightly for life). Factor analysis evaluated the two proposed MSQ factors, and structural equation modeling tested their associations with demographics and the five SVIB-2.0 factors. Results Two factors were identified from the MSQ, which did not significantly correlate with one another. Factor 1, the amount one would need to be paid to sleep less, was associated with higher income, lower age, and more Sleep Devaluation (p<.05, for all). Factor 2, the amount one would pay for more sleep, was associated with higher levels of Education, more Sleep Appreciation, and lower Sleep Devaluation (p<.05, for all). Conclusion Our results suggest that the MSQ captures two distinct valuation processes: sacrificing sleep for money and paying for quality sleep. Greater education and appreciation for sleep increase the value placed on quality sleep, whereas lower income, older age, and sleep devaluation predict trading sleep for money. Future research with the MSQ may help advance our understanding of sleep value as a potential target for sleep health promotion. Support (if any)
Source: SLEEP
Institution: Brigham Young University
Language: English
Topic: Sleep and related disorders
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,388
OpenAlex ID: W7160615648
FWCI:
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: