Physical activities and sleep-related symptoms in 4 major racial/ethnic groups of midlife women

Systematic review: sleep health in the US Latinx population

Sleep disturbances are a common and unmet health problem in Latinx. While Latinx report similar sleep disturbances as non-Hispanic Whites [NHW], Latinx suffer from these disturbances to a greater degree than their NHW counterparts. Sleep disturbances are associated with increased risk of chronic health conditions, which Latinx experience at high rates. Research also points to significant sleep differences within Latinx. Given that Latinx are a rapidly growing population in the United States, sleep disparities between Latinx and NHWs and sleep differences within Latinx warrant further investigation. While research on Latinx sleep is growing, the last narrative review on US Latinx sleep health was published by Loredo and colleagues in 2010. Our narrative review expands on Loredo et al.'s work, adding the literature on Latinx sleep published since 2010 (N = 70). A total of 78 peer-reviewed articles related to young to middle-aged (i.e., 18-65 years) healthy Latinx adult sleep were identified in three databases-PsycInfo, PubMed/Medline, and Web of Science. With the socioecological model as framework, this review (1) summarizes current evidence pertaining to sleep health in healthy, community dwelling, urban Latinx adults; (2) discusses measurement challenges related to investigating Latinx sleep disparities and differences; and (3) discusses potential contributors to Latinx sleep. The prevalence of short sleep duration, long sleep duration, and poor sleep quality is high among Latinx; there are differences by Latinx subgroup. Our review identifies several multi-level influences associated with poor sleep: SES, sexual minority status, racial discrimination, access to care, neighborhood environment, and shift work. N = 250/250.

A Mixed Method Examination of Sleep Patterns and Barriers to Sleep in Hispanic Women

Research on Hispanic sleep (1) remains far behind research on non-Hispanic White sleep, and (2) seldom focuses solely on Hispanic women. A convergent parallel mixed-methods study design was used to examine (1) sleep quantity, quality, and habits; (2) the association of sleep and health; and (3) perceived barriers to healthy sleep in middle-aged Hispanic women living in [a large Midwest city]. A total of 78 Hispanic women were surveyed, and 27 of these Hispanic women participated in focus groups. Participants had: poor sleep quantity, quality, and sleep hygiene. In focus groups, participants identified three barriers to healthy sleep: poor sleep hygiene, responsibilities and related stress, and additional mental health concerns. While poor sleep quantity and quality have serious health consequences for Hispanic women, sleep disorders in Hispanic women have been understudied. This study underscores barriers to healthy sleep and the associations between sleep and health in Hispanic women.

The association of sleep duration and feeling rested with health in U.S. Hispanic women

This study aims to understand the health correlates of sleep deficiencies in non-elderly U.S. Hispanic¹ women. Data from a sample of U.S. Hispanic women (n = 1531; ages 18-65 [M = 39.98; SD = 12.85]) who completed the 2017 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed to understand (1) sleep duration and quality; (2) the association of sleep patterns with key health indicators; and (3) whether these relationships are mediated by health behaviors (ie, healthy eating and physical activity). Shorter sleep duration was associated with a higher likelihood of often feeling anxious and having hypertension. Worse sleep quality was associated with a higher likelihood of being overweight, having fair or poor health status, often feeling depressed, often feeling anxious, having high cholesterol, and having asthma. Doctor's recommendation to engage in physical activity and to decrease calorie intake served as mediators in some of these relationships. Results indicate that among Hispanic women: (1) sleep is an important determinant of a variety of health outcomes and (2) the association of sleep and many health outcomes are mediated by healthy eating and physical activity. Further research on the association of sleep and risk of chronic disease among Hispanic women is needed.

Sleep-related symptoms of midlife women with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between type 2 diabetes mellitus and sleep-related symptoms among midlife women from four major racial/ethnic groups in the United States.

METHODS

The data from 164 participants of two larger Internet survey studies (62 women diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 102 women without diabetes) were included. In the original studies, multiple instruments including the questions on background characteristics, health status, and menopause status and the Sleep Index for Midlife Women were used. The data were analyzed using χ tests, independent t tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS

The mean total number of sleep-related symptoms was significantly higher in those with type 2 diabetes (9.95 ± 5.83) than those without diabetes (7.25 ± 6.08) (t = 2.81, P = 0.006). The mean total severity score of sleep-related symptoms was also significantly higher in those with type 2 diabetes (33.42 ± 22.41) than those without diabetes (21.87 ± 21.40) (t = 3.29, P = 0.001). Among postmenopausal women and Asian women, there were significant differences in total numbers and total severity scores between those with type 2 diabetes and those without diabetes (all P < 0.05). When background characteristics, health status, and menopause status were controlled, having a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was positively associated with total numbers (β=0.143, P = 0.047) and total severity scores (β=0.176, P = 0.014) of sleep-related symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

This secondary analysis supported significant associations of type 2 diabetes to sleep-related symptoms of midlife women from four major racial/ethnic groups in the United States.

Immigration transition and sleep-related symptoms experienced during menopausal transition

The transition due to immigration from one country to another country (referred to as immigration transition henceforth) is inherently stressful, placing an additional dimension of stress to midlife women in the menopausal transition. However, few studies have examined the association of immigration to sleep-related symptoms experienced by midlife women in the menopausal transition. The authors' purpose for this study was to explore the associations of immigration to sleep-related symptoms among four major racial/ethnic groups of 1,054 midlife women in the United States. This was a secondary analysis of data from two national surveys that were collected from 2005 to 2013. The instruments included questions on background characteristics, health and menopausal status, immigration transition, and the Sleep Index for Midlife Women. The data were analyzed using t-tests, chi-square tests, correlation analyses, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Immigrants reported fewer total numbers of and lower total severity scores of sleep-related symptoms than non-immigrants (p < .01). Yet, when background characteristics and health and menopausal status were controlled, self-reported racial/ethnic identity was the only significant factor associated with sleep-related symptoms (ΔR² = 0.02, p < .01). Health-care providers need to consider self-reported racial/ethnic identity as a factor significantly related to sleep-related symptoms during the menopausal transition.