Influence of Race and Socioeconomic Status on Sleep: Pittsburgh SleepSCORE Project

Objective: To examine the independent and interactive effects of race and socioeconomic status (SES) on objective indices and self-reports of sleep. Methods: The sleep of 187 adults (41% black; mean age = 59.5 ± 7.2 years) was examined. Nine nights of actigraphy and two nights of inhome polysomnography (PSG) were used to assess average sleep duration, continuity, and architecture; self-report was used to assess sleep quality. Psychosocial factors, health behaviors, and environmental factors were also measured. Results: Blacks had shorter sleep duration and lower sleep efficiency, as measured by actigraphy and PSG, and they spent less time proportionately in Stage 3–4 sleep, compared with others (p < .01). Lower SES was associated with longer actigraphy-measured latency, more wake after sleep onset as measured by PSG, and poorer sleep quality on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (p < .05). Conclusions: Blacks and perhaps individuals in lower SES groups may be at risk for sleep disturbances and associated health consequences. SES = socioeconomic status; PSG = polysomnography; WASO = wake after sleep onset; HeartSCORE = Heart Strategies Concentrating On Risk Evaluation; PSQI = Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; ESS = Epworth Sleepiness Scale; EOG = electro-oculogram; EMG = electromyogram; ECG = electrocardiogram; REM = rapid eye movement; AHI = apnea/hypopnea index; BMI = body mass index; CES-D = Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; STAI = Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory; Ho = Cook-Medley Hostility Scale; SEI = Sleep Environment Inventory.