Comparisons of the sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and sleep cognitions of Caucasian Australians and Zimbabwean and Ghanaian black immigrants

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Studying sleep differences across different ethnic groups is not only important for our understanding of sleep but may lead to the development of new, culturally appropriate interventions. Perceptions of sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and sleep cognitions (beliefs and attitudes) were investigated in a community sample of Caucasian Australians and Black immigrants currently resident in Australia from Zimbabwe (Black Zimbabwean) and Ghana (Black Ghanaian). A sample of a total of 176 participants including Caucasian Australian ( n = 58), Black Zimbabwean ( n = 59), and Black Ghanaian ( n = 59), aged between 18 and 60 years was surveyed. Groups were matched on age and gender, with a strong predominance of professional occupations in all groups in the final sample and no significant socio-economic status differences between groups. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep, and the Short Form-36 Health Survey. After matching participants on age, gender, and socio-economic status, no statistically significant group differences were found on sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and physical health. However, significant group differences were found on beliefs and attitudes about sleep with Black Zimbabwean and Black Ghanaian participants, attributing sleep difficulties more to physical than psychological phenomena compared to Caucasian Australian participants.