Sleep, Media Use, and Sociopolitical Attitudes

Abstract

Abstract: The relationship between sleep and media use is well established, as is the effect of sleep deprivation and fatigue on decision-making. Our paper connects these disparate literatures to consider the ways in which a combination of sleep and media use affect sociopolitical attitudes related to risk and/or threat perception. Using novel data from a large US survey, we found that participants who consume high levels of media coverage in a more fatigued state tend to be most supportive of a US border wall and of increased spending on defense and police. Analyses further suggest an association between sleep, media use, and risk preferences. These results offer preliminary evidence for an as-yet wholly under-explored and likely increasingly important moderator for those interested in the effects of media use: sleep.