A study that was conducted last year has established a positive relationship between poor sleep health and depression and anxiety among racial/ethnic minorities. In this study, the researchers had examined sleep duration, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Using the survey data of 2004 to 2017, as collected from the annual National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the researchers investigated adults who self-identified as non-Hispanic (NH)-White, NH-Black, and Hispanic/Latinx. Among the 316,840 participants, 3.6% exhibited serious psychological distress. Among all groups, including Caucasians, the prevalence rate of smoking was 40% among participants with sleep and serious psychological distress (SPD) compared to those without SPD which was 18%. Among African descendants, 39% of individuals with SPD smoked compared to those without SPD (19%). Among Hispanic/Latinx, the ratio was 32% vs 14%.
Additionally, a positive link between shortened sleep duration and SPD was strongest among participants who were African descendants. Positive associations between sleep disturbances and SPD were stronger among African descendants and Hispanic/Latinx adults compared to Caucasian adults. “Such information can influence public health efforts towards both prevention and reduction of adverse mental health among vulnerable populations”, the study adds.
To Know More, You May Refer To:
Goldstein, S. J., Gaston, S. A., McGrath, J. A., & Jackson, C. L. (2020). Sleep Health and Serious Psychological Distress: A Nationally Representative Study of the United States among White, Black, and Hispanic/Latinx Adults. Nature and science of sleep, 12, 1091–1104. https://doi.org/10.2147/NSS.S268087
