498 It Makes Relationships Harder: The Role of Narcolepsy in Social and Romantic Relationships in Young Adults

• Published in: Sleep (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2021-05, Vol.44 (Supplement_2), p.A196-A197
• Main Authors: Davidson, Ryan, Biddle, Kelsey, Scammell, Thomas, Nassan, Malik, Zhou, Eric
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Personal relationships; Sleep disorders; Social life & customs; Young adults
• ISSN: 0161-8105; 1550-9109
• DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsab072.497

Introduction Narcolepsy typically begins during adolescence/young adulthood – a crucial period for developing relationships. As symptoms would be expected to impact social interactions, we studied how narcolepsy impacts social, romantic, and sexual relationships in young adults. Methods Young adults (18–39 years; N=262) with a self-confirmed narcolepsy diagnosis were recruited through national narcolepsy patient organizations. Participants completed an online survey, including open-ended questions, to evaluate their social, romantic, and sexual relationships and communication with medical providers. Results Participants (mean=28.5 years old; SD=5.6) were primarily female (87%), White/Caucasian (92%), employed (75%), and had Narcolepsy Type I (56%). All participants indicated that narcolepsy made social life or entering relationships somewhat or a lot more difficult. Rates of cohabitation and marriage were comparable to nationally representative samples. On the Couples Satisfaction Index, most participants reported feeling satisfied with their romantic relationships (mean=15.8; SD=4.3). On the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, participants reported receiving greater support from their significant others (mean=4.5; SD=1.4) compared to both family (mean=3.7; SD=1.5; p