The Association between Sexual Orientation and Sleep Problems: Are there Racial and Ethnic Differences?

Almazan Almazan

doi:10.3390/clockssleep1020019

Abstract

Using the 2013–2017 National Health Interview Survey, this study examined whether there were significant sexual orientation differences in sleep problems in specific racial and ethnic populations. The analysis had a large sample size and enough statistical power to evaluate any sexual orientation differences or non-differences in sleep problems in Latinx, non-Latinx Black, non-Latinx Asian and Pacific Islander, and non-Latinx White populations. Consistent with recent studies on sexual orientation and sleep problems, this analysis revealed that, for most racial and ethnic groups, there was no significant sexual orientation difference in non-normal sleep duration. Sexual minority adults were significantly more likely to report not feeling rested, trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, and taking medications for sleep than heterosexual adults. There were two notable exceptions in the findings. The first exception was that Latinx sexual minority adults were significantly more likely to report non-normal sleep duration when compared with Latinx heterosexual adults. The second exception was that there was no significant sexual orientation difference in not feeling rested among Asian and Pacific Islander adults.

Highlights

This study examined whether there were racial and ethnic differences in the association between sexual orientation and sleep problems
Using five years of data from the National Health Interview Survey, this study examined whether there were significant sexual orientation differences in sleep problems in specific racial and ethnic populations
The analysis had a large sample size and enough statistical power to evaluate for any sexual orientation differences or non-differences in sleep problems in Latinx, non-Latinx Black, non-Latinx Asian and Pacific Islander, and non-Latinx White populations

Summary

Introduction

This study examined whether there were racial and ethnic differences in the association between sexual orientation and sleep problems. In a study using the 2013–2014 NHIS by Chen and Shiu [1], sexual minority adults were more likely to report feeling not rested, trouble falling asleep, and trouble staying asleep than heterosexual adults. They found no sexual orientation difference in non-normal sleep duration. Using five years of NHIS data, this large sample size of sexual minority adults who are racial and ethnic minority adults has enough statistical power to evaluate for any sexual orientation difference or non-difference in non-normal sleep duration or reports of feeling not rested, trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, and taking medications for sleep. In a study that analyzed survey data from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Black adults were more likely to report non-normal sleep duration than Latinx, Asian, and White adults [4]

Data and Methods

Variables

Statistical Analysis

Results

Discussion