Qualitative Assessment of the Work-Sleep Relationship

Background: Sleep that does not last long and is low-quality is tied to a range of serious health issues. These range from obesity to early death. Research has shown that black people who are professionals or managers are more likely to have this kind of sleep than their white counterparts. Black people are also at higher risk than whites for health problems caused by insufficient sleep. Researchers want to learn more about why these differences exist. Objective: To study reasons for racial differences in the work-sleep relationship. Eligibility: Adults at least 25 years old who: * Are non-Hispanic black or non-Hispanic white * Are employed and work 38 or more hours a week * Live around Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, or Washington, DC Design: Participants will be screened with questions. They will give sociodemographic data like job title, annual income level, and gender. They will give their contact information. Participants will have 1 study visit. They will be in a closed, private conference room. They will join a focus group. The focus groups will be organized by to race, gender, and occupational class. Participants will give informed consent before the focus group begins. During the focus group, participants will be asked about their perceptions of health in general, and their typical work day. They will be asked about sleep. Participants will also fill out a short questionnaire about their job and sleep habits. Focus groups will be audio recorded. The entire session will last 90 to 120 minutes.