Social Rejection for Sleep

(SASE Trial)

Overseen By Emelly Argueta

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

Must not be taking: Antidepressants, Anxiolytics, Beta-blockers

Disqualifiers: Obesity, Sleep apnea, Hypertension, Depression, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial examines how racial rejection might affect sleep and heart health at night. Participants will encounter a situation where they feel rejected by someone of either their own race or a different race before bedtime. African American or Caucasian American individuals who sleep between 6.5 and 8.5 hours most nights and typically go to bed between 10 PM and midnight may be suitable candidates. As an unphased study, this trial provides a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding the impact of racial experiences on health.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

Yes, if you are taking medications that affect sleep or heart function, like antidepressants, anxiety meds, sleep aids, or beta-blockers, you will need to stop taking them to participate in this trial.

What prior data suggests that this social rejection paradigm is safe for participants?

Research shows that social rejection can affect sleep quality. Negative interactions, such as rejection, may lead to trouble sleeping or excessive sleep. These sleep issues are noticeable but not severe.

Studies also find that social rejection particularly affects those who tend to overthink. Poor sleep can intensify reactions to rejection, creating a cycle.

Whether rejection comes from acquaintances or strangers, the effects on sleep remain similar. Feelings of isolation or loneliness can lead to poor sleep and other issues like depression. However, evidence does not consistently show that sleep directly alters reactions to rejection.

In summary, social rejection might cause some sleep problems, but these effects are usually moderate. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about exploring social rejection as a treatment for sleep issues because it taps into the psychological and social dimensions of sleep, which are often overlooked. Unlike current treatments for sleep disorders that primarily focus on medication or behavioral therapy, this approach uses controlled social rejection scenarios, like a ball-tossing game and speech task, to understand how social dynamics impact sleep. By examining both in-group and out-group rejection, researchers hope to uncover unique insights into how social stressors influence sleep patterns across different racial and ethnic contexts.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for sleep outcomes?

Research has shown that social rejection can significantly disrupt sleep. Frequent rumination on negative experiences can make falling asleep difficult and lead to poor sleep quality. This trial will explore two scenarios: one where participants experience social rejection by someone of their own race/ethnicity and another where the rejection is by someone of a different race/ethnicity. Studies have found that the stress and physical reactions from social rejection can delay sleep and alter perceptions of sleep quality, regardless of the rejector's race. In short, feeling rejected can cause restless nights. ^{2 3 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Aric A Prather, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of California, San Francisco

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This study is for English-speaking African American/Black or Caucasian American/White individuals aged 18-64 who usually sleep between 6.5 and 8.5 hours a night, with bedtime from 10PM to midnight. They must be able to consent and not have conditions like severe sleep apnea, obesity (BMI of 40+), heart issues, major mental health disorders, or take medications affecting sleep/cardiovascular health.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a competent English speaker and can provide consent.

I usually sleep for about 6.5 to 8.5 hours a night, in 5/7 nights over the last month

You identify as either African American/Black or Caucasian American/White.

Exclusion Criteria

You have a high risk for a condition called obstructive sleep apnea, which affects your breathing while you sleep.

You have a very high body weight for your height.

You have a medical or mental health condition that affects your sleep or heart health, such as diagnosed heart problems, high blood pressure, depression, bipolar disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Control Night

Participants complete low arousal tasks prior to bedtime in the sleep laboratory

1 night

1 visit (in-person)

Social Rejection Night

Participants are exposed to a social rejection paradigm prior to bedtime in the sleep laboratory

1 night

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in sleep and cardiovascular outcomes after the experimental nights

1-2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Social rejection

Trial Overview

The trial examines how race-based social rejection affects sleep quality and nighttime heart function in African Americans and Caucasians. It compares the effects of a socially rejecting experience against a control non-rejection scenario during two different nights in a sleep lab.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Social rejection by out-group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

One hour prior to bed, participants will be exposed to a social rejection paradigm that includes a computerized ball-tossing game (Cyberball) and a speech task. Participants are made to believe that they are being rejected by someone not of their own race/ethnicity (e.g., Caucasian American rejected by another African American).

Group II: Social rejection by in-group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

One hour prior to bed, participants will be exposed to a social rejection paradigm that includes a computerized ball-tossing game (Cyberball) and a speech task. Participants are made to believe that they are being rejected by someone of their own race/ethnicity (e.g., African American rejected by another African American).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, San Francisco

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,636

Recruited

19,080,000+

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Collaborator

Trials

3,987

Recruited

47,860,000+

Citations

1.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30640258/

Bidirectional Links Between Social Rejection and Sleep

These studies provide evidence that social rejection may affect sleep outcomes, particularly for trait ruminators, and poor sleep in turn may exacerbate ...

2.

sites.lsa.umich.edu

sites.lsa.umich.edu/whirl/wp-content/uploads/sites/792/2022/03/Bidirectional-Links-Between-Social-Rejection-and-Sleep.pdf

Bidirectional Links Between Social Rejection and Sleep

In addition, the physiological arousal caused by social rejection may delay sleep and affect sleep quality (particularly people's percep- tions of their sleep) ...

3.

researchgate.net

researchgate.net/publication/330446457_Bidirectional_Links_Between_Social_Rejection_and_Sleep

Bidirectional Links Between Social Rejection and Sleep

Conclusions: These studies provide evidence that social rejection may affect sleep outcomes, particularly for trait ruminators, and poor sleep in turn may ...

4.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352721820300796

Associations between positive and negative social media ...

We sought to examine the association of positive and negative experiences using social media (SM) and sleep disturbance in a national survey of US young adults.

5.

nature.com

nature.com/articles/s41467-018-05377-0

Sleep loss causes social withdrawal and loneliness

In humans, intrapersonal distress and self-reported loneliness are linked to worse sleep quality, specifically lower sleep efficiency, while ...

6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9916135/

The Social Side of Sleep: A Systematic Review of the ...

Negative peer relationships are associated with higher sleep disturbances symptoms and excessive sleep duration over time. These associations are moderate.

7.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667343624000246

Understanding the association between neighborhoods ...

Overall, this study found that more positive perceptions about neighborhood contentedness, social cohesion, and safety were related to better sleep outcomes ...