Sleep Quality among Hispanics of Mexican Descent and Non-Hispanic Whites: Results from the Sleep Health and Knowledge in US Hispanics Study

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate differences in sleep quality between Hispanics of Mexican descent (HMD) and Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) and evaluate the effect of acculturation to the US lifestyle in sleep health. We hypothesize that the detrimental effect of acculturation on health outcomes will impact sleep quality among HMD. Design: We performed a population-based random digit dialing telephone survey to determine sleep quality in HMD and NHW. We collected from 3667 subjects, demographics, previous diagnosis of depression or anxiety, past treatment for sleep disorders, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics. Results: The prevalence of poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5) was 64.4% for HMD and 64.3% for NHW (p = 0.93). A prior diagnosis of depression or anxiety was an independent predictor of poor sleep quality in both groups (OR 3.4 and 2.7 for HMD and NHW. Ethnicity was not a predictor of poor sleep quality in HMD or NHW. Acculturation was not a predictor of poor sleep quality in HMD. However, highly acculturated young HMD males had significantly more prevalence of poor sleep quality compared to NHW (64.8% vs. 49.8%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The absence of sleep quality differences in a large sample of HMD and NHW living in San Diego County is contrary to current data of having poorer sleep quality among Latinos. We found that neither ethnicity nor acculturation were predictors of poor sleep quality in HMD. However, we demonstrated a highly prevalent poor sleep quality among the two ethnic groups. The finding of significantly lower sleep quality in young highly acculturated HMD men may represent the heterogeneity of ethnicity related to sleep. Programs to improve sleep quality in subjects with depression and/or anxiety, and in young highly-acculturated HMD seems warranted.

Sleep Quality Among Latino Farmworkers in North Carolina: Examination of the Job Control-Demand-Support Model

“…Fewer than 17% reported poor quality sleep during the past month (PSQI > 5). The mean PSQI scores is lower, indicating better sleep quality, than other samples of young adult English-speaking Latinos from San Diego County, California (62), English- and Spanish-speaking Mexican-born and U.S.-born Latinos of Mexican descent in San Diego County (mean age of 41) (63), and young adult English-speaking Mexican Americans from a general medicine clinic in Miami, Florida (64). The PSQI scores of young to middle-age adult non-Latinos are also higher than those in our analysis (63, 65).…”

“…The mean PSQI scores is lower, indicating better sleep quality, than other samples of young adult English-speaking Latinos from San Diego County, California (62), English- and Spanish-speaking Mexican-born and U.S.-born Latinos of Mexican descent in San Diego County (mean age of 41) (63), and young adult English-speaking Mexican Americans from a general medicine clinic in Miami, Florida (64). The PSQI scores of young to middle-age adult non-Latinos are also higher than those in our analysis (63, 65). Our analysis is consistent with other research that reports that Mexican-born U.S. immigrants have longer and better sleep than U.S. residents in general and Mexican Americans more specifically (66–69).…”

“…Those with better physical and mental health may be more likely than those with poorer health to migrate to a new country (68). Although there are exceptions (63), other studies generally suggest that poorer sleep is associated with acculturation to U.S. culture (67, 68). Mexican-born Latinos may perceive that their financial situation is better in the U.S. than it would be in their native country, even if current working conditions are, by U.S. standards, quite poor.…”