Translational Sleep Science in Behavioral Medicine: Introduction to this Special Issue

Abstract

The consideration of sleep and circadian rhythms in the context of health is a relatively recent development in the history of the field of behavioral medicine. This special issue of the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine recognizes that sleep and circadian rhythms are fundamental to appreciating physiological, psychological, social, and environmental factors in the health and well-being of the population. The articles included in this issue draw attention to the breadth and saliency of sleep as a marker of health status and as a target of behavioral intervention to promote health. Such research highlights the diversity of participants, research methods, and clinical significance of translational sleep science allowing us to recognize the role of sleep in the context of health in new ways. These studies also illustrate progress in integrating theory, employing prospective and longitudinal designs and multimodal and integrative assessments. This introduction to the special issue concludes by discussing challenges and opportunities in the field of behavioral sleep medicine, including those posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the need to more effectively provide sleep disorder treatment among underserved populations.