Racial discrimination and adjustment in adolescence: Sex differences and the moderating role of sleep

• In Event: Racism and Other Identities on Youth Wellbeing and Learning: Use of Intersectionality

Abstract

Experiences of racial discrimination have long-term adverse effects and are key contributors to widening disparities in physical and mental health (Benner et al., 2018; Huynh & Fulingi, 2010). A growing literature has documented associations between experiences of racial discrimination, sleep, and adjustment outcomes among youth (El-Sheikh et al., 2016; Yip, 2016), yet the protective role of sleep in the context of racial discrimination is less understood. Furthermore, sex differences in youth adjustment are well-established such that girls report greater levels of depression and anxiety (Breslau et al., 2017), whereas boys report greater externalizing behaviors (Eme, 2016). Girls typically obtain better sleep compared to boys (Biggs et al., 2013), but it is unknown whether associations between discrimination, sleep, and adjustment differ by sex. The main objective of this study was to examine objective sleep parameters as moderators of associations between racial discrimination and adjustment. We expected better sleep to buffer against adjustment problems that would otherwise be associated with greater discrimination. Further, we expected associations between discrimination and internalizing symptoms to be stronger for girls, whereas associations with externalizing behaviors would be stronger for boys.
A representative community sample of 272 adolescents (49% female) participated in sleep and laboratory assessments (M age 17.2 years, SD = 0.91). Youth came from diverse racial/ethnic (41% African American/Black, 59% White) and socioeconomic backgrounds assessed by family income-to-needs ratio (35% at or below the federal poverty line, 20% lower middle class, 33% middle class, 12% upper middle class; U.S. Department of Commerce, 2017).
Adolescents reported on their experiences of racial discrimination in institutional, educational, and peer domains using the Adolescent Discrimination Distress Index (Fisher et al., 2000). Adolescents also completed the well-established Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (Reynolds & Richmond, 2008), Children’s Depression Inventory (Kovacs, 1992), and Youth Self-Report rule-breaking subscale (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001). Additionally, adolescents wore validated actigraphs for 7 nights to provide objective assessments of sleep minutes and efficiency.
Separate path models were fit to examine each sleep parameter as a moderator of associations between racial discrimination and each adjustment outcome, controlling for potential confounds (i.e., race, age, income-to-needs). Three-way interactions between racial discrimination, each sleep parameter, and sex significantly predicted anxiety and depression symptoms (Table 1). Simple slopes analyses revealed similar associations for anxiety and depression; specifically, associations between discrimination and internalizing symptoms were strongest among girls with poor sleep (minutes, efficiency; Figure 1). Racial discrimination was directly associated with more engagement in rule-breaking behaviors, but neither sleep nor sex moderated this association.
Findings corroborate a dual-risk perspective and shed light on who may be at greater risk for adjustment problems. Short and poor-quality sleep exacerbated the risk of anxiety and depression symptoms in the context of racial discrimination, particularly for girls. Identifying sleep as a risk and protective factor may inform the design and implementation of intervention and prevention strategies aimed at reducing internalizing symptoms associated with discriminatory experiences in adolescence, particularly as youth prepare to transition to new contexts and experiences in adulthood.

Authors

• Ekjyot Kaur Saini, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Presenting Author

• Megan Zeringue, Middle Tennessee State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Mona M El-Sheikh, Auburn University
  Non-Presenting Author