Self-reported experiences of discrimination and sleep dysfunction have both been shown to adversely impact biological functioning; however, few studies have examined how they are jointly associated with health. The current study draws from two samples of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) data (n = 617 participants; 59.8% female; 72.3% White and 27.7% African American; Age: Mean = 52.6,
SD
= 12.22) to identify profiles of sleep (duration, variability, onset latency, wake after sleep onset, naps) and discrimination (everyday, lifetime, impact). Associations with latent profiles of biomarkers of inflammation (CRP, fibrinogen, IL-6) and endocrine stress (cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine) were examined. Three profiles were identified for sleep/discrimination (
good, fair, poor
) and for biomarkers (
average, high inflammation, high neuroendocrine
). Chi-square analyses indicated that adults in the
good sleep/low discrimination
profile were more likely to be in the
average biomarker
profile but less likely to be in the
high inflammation
profile. Adults in the
fair sleep/moderate discrimination risk
profile were more likely to be in the
high inflammation
profile. Adults in the
poor sleep/high discrimination risk
profile were less likely to be in the
average biomarker
profile but more likely to be in the
high inflammation
profile. The current study identified configurations of sleep and discrimination among midlife adults which were associated with profiles of biological risk. The findings provide implications for identifying individuals who may be at increased risk of developing stress-related tertiary outcomes of morbidity and disease.
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