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

Objective: To 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.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: USA.

Participants: 254 699 men and women.

Methods: We 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.

Results: Among 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, PR_{trouble 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.

Conclusion: Sleep disparities varied by birthplace, Hispanic/Latino heritage and language preference, and each characteristic should be considered in sleep disparities research.

Keywords: epidemiology; public health; sleep medicine; social medicine.