Abstract 12464: Family Caregiving Support and Sleep Duration Among African American Family Caregivers

Abstract

Background: African Americans family caregivers are at risk for poor sleep health and cardiovascular disease. Psychological health (i.e., depressive symptoms) and social determinants of health (i.e., social interactions) are associated with sleep health (i.e., sleep duration) and are important contextual drivers of cardiovascular health. Recently, the American Heart Association recognized sleep duration as a component of cardiovascular health. However, there is limited literature on psychological and social determinants of sleep duration among African American family caregivers. Aim: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the contribution of depressive symptoms and family caregiving support to sleep duration among African American family caregivers. We hypothesized that higher levels of depressive symptoms and lower levels of family caregiving support would be associated with shorter sleep duration. Methods: African American family caregivers ( n = 55) of adults with chronic illness were recruited through community-engaged strategies. Demographic, depressive symptoms, family caregiving support, and sleep duration data were based on self-report measures, whereas body mass index (BMI) data were based on objective height and weight assessments. Hierarchical linear regression was used to determine the contributions of depressive symptoms and family caregiving support on sleep duration, controlling for age, gender, and BMI. Results: On average, participants were 60.67 years old (SD = 12.04) and had a BMI of 34.61 (SD = 7.55). The majority self-identified as female (87.3%). Mean self-reported sleep duration was 5.87 hours (SD = 1.35) per night, which is below the recommended sleep duration of 7-9 hours for adults. In the final model, lower levels of family caregiving support were associated with shorter sleep duration ( b = -.46, p = .046), controlling for caregivers’ age, gender, BMI, and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Family caregiving support is a modifiable target to promote sleep and cardiovascular health equity for African American family caregivers. Multilevel interventions may optimize the support that caregivers receive from other family members and friends as well as professional and community-based sources.