Disparities in multiple sleep characteristics among non-Hispanic White and Hispanic/Latino adults by birthplace and language preference: cross-sectional results from the US National Health Interview Survey

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate whether sleep disparities vary by birthplace among non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Hispanic/Latino adults in the USA and to investigate language preference as an effect modifier.DesignCross-sectional.SettingUSA.Participants254 699 men and women.MethodsWe used pooled 2004–2017 National Health Interview Survey data. Adjusting for sociodemographic and behavioural/clinical characteristics, survey-weighted Poisson regressions with robust variance estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% CIs of self-reported sleep characteristics (eg, sleep duration, trouble staying asleep) among (1) foreign-born NHW adults and Hispanic/Latino heritage groups versus US-born NHW adults and (2) Hispanic/Latino heritage groups versus foreign-born NHW adults. We further stratified by language preference in comparisons of Hispanic/Latino heritage groups with the US-born NHW group.ResultsAmong 254 699 participants with a mean age±SE 47±0.9 years, 81% self-identified their race/ethnicity as NHW, 12% Mexican, 2% Puerto Rican, 1% Cuban, 1% Dominican and 3% Central/South American. Compared with US-born NHW adults, foreign-born NHW adults were more likely to report poor sleep quality (eg, PRtrouble staying asleep=1.27 (95% CI: 1.17 to 1.37)), and US-born Mexican adults were no more likely to report non-recommended sleep duration while foreign-born Mexican adults were less likely (eg, PR≤5-hours=0.52 (0.47 to 0.57)). Overall, Mexican adults had lower prevalence of poor sleep quality versus US-born NHW adults, and PRs were lowest for foreign-born Mexican adults. US-born Mexican adults were more likely than foreign-born NHW adults to report shorter sleep duration. Regardless of birthplace, Puerto Rican adults were more likely to report shorter sleep duration versus NHW adults. Generally, sleep duration and quality were better among Cuban and Dominican adults versus US-born NHW adults but were similar versus foreign-born NHW adults. Despite imprecision in certain estimates, Spanish language preference was generally associated with increasingly better sleep among Hispanic/Latino heritage groups compared with US-born NHW adults.ConclusionSleep disparities varied by birthplace, Hispanic/Latino heritage and language preference, and each characteristic should be considered in sleep disparities research.

Acculturation and depression are associated with short and long sleep duration among Mexican Americans in NHANES 2005–2018

“… Seicean et al (2011) , however, did not analyze the association between acculturation and long sleep duration. A cross-sectional analysis of the 2004–2017 NHIS by Gaston et al (2021) also found the prevalence of short sleep duration among Mexican adults to be higher in those with English-only interviews compared to Spanish-only interviews. Our study yielded comparable results, with English-only households having 23% greater odds of sleeping ≤6 h per day.…”

“…Higher levels of acculturation defined by birthplace and language spoken at home ( Seicean et al, 2011 ) and language of interview ( Gaston et al, 2021 ) are associated with insufficient sleep duration, sleep disturbances, depression, and poorer quality sleep in both U.S.-born and foreign-born Hispanic/Latino immigrants ( Billings et al, 2021 , Seicean et al, 2011 , Gaston et al, 2021 ). Among Mexican-born men, higher rates of acculturation are associated with an elevated risk for insufficient sleep ( Seicean et al, 2011 ).…”

“…Previous research on Hispanic/Latino heritage groups has also shown heterogeneity in health outcomes ( García et al, 2020 , Patel et al, 2015 ). Learning about the sleep health of Mexican Americans is therefore important because Mexican Americans are the largest Hispanic/Latino heritage group and they may have different sleep patterns than other groups ( Patel et al, 2015 , Gaston et al, 2021 ). We hypothesized that higher levels of acculturation and depression wouldconfer greater odds for short or long sleep duration.…”

Sleep, Stress, and Cardiometabolic Health in Women of Childbearing Age with Overweight and Obesity

“…Furthermore, in another study, sleep disparities were found to vary by birthplace and Hispanic/Latino heritage with Mexican adults less likely and Puerto Rican adults more likely to report short sleep duration as compared with non-Hispanic White adults. 29 We did not ask women their birth country of origin in this study, but future larger studies should investigate if country of birth may impact sleep quality, particularly in women of childbearing age.…”

Profiles of Sleep Duration and Psychological Distress among Puerto Ricans Living in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Survey and Latent Class Analysis

“…Research has found that sleep duration and sleep habits among Hispanics/Latinos is heterogeneous and varies within each ethnicity. For instance, Mexicans have been associated with better sleep outcomes in comparison to other Hispanic/Latino ethnicities in the US [ 9 , 10 ]. Another study that examined sleep patterns of Hispanic/Latino subpopulations from New York, Florida, Illinois, and California by actigraphy found that Mexicans, when compared to those that identified as Cuban, Dominican, South American, and Puerto Rican, had a shorter sleep duration [ 9 ].…”