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

• In Event: 3129 - Section on Medical Sociology Refereed Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 22. Topics in Health and Sexuality

Abstract

Using the 2013-2017 National Health Interview Survey, this study examined whether there were significant sexual orientation differences in sleep problems in specific race 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 Latino, non-Latino Black, non-Latino Asian Pacific Islander, and non-Latino White populations. Consistent with recent studies on sexual orientation and sleep problems, this analysis revealed for most racial and ethnic groups that there was no significant sexual orientation difference in non-normal sleep duration and that sexual minority adults were 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 Latino sexual minority adults were more likely to report non-normal sleep duration compared to Latino heterosexual adults. The second exception was that there was no significant sexual orientation difference in not feeling rested among Asian Pacific Islander adults.

Author

• Elbert P. Almazan, Central Michigan University