Mindful of sleep: A scoping review on the intersection of mindfulness and sleep among marginalized populations

Background: Mindfulness is a nonjudgmental awareness of moment-to-moment experience that is linked with numerous mental and physical health benefits. Emerging research suggests mindfulness may influence sleep quality by reducing stress, improving emotional regulation, and altering sleep-related cognitive processes. As marginalized populations experience disproportionate rates of poor sleep and related health disparities, a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between mindfulness and sleep in these populations is necessary. Objective: This review explores associations of trait mindfulness and mindfulness-based interventions with sleep health among marginalized populations. We highlight gaps in existing research and discuss the need for culturally responsive interventions tailored to diverse racial and ethnic groups. Design: A scoping review of peer-reviewed literature (2015–2024) was conducted. Keywords related to mindfulness, sleep and marginalized populations identified relevant studies. Articles were screened and categorized based on subjective sleep parameters and objective sleep parameters including actigraphy and polysomnography. Results: This review highlights the intersection of mindfulness and sleep health among marginalized populations. Evidence suggests that higher trait mindfulness is associated with improved sleep quality and reduced sleep disturbances, particularly in individuals experiencing psychosocial stressors. MBIs have demonstrated efficacy in reducing insomnia, improving sleep quality and reducing distress-related sleep disturbances. In actigraphy studies, MBIs demonstrate improvements in sleep efficiency and duration. However, most research has predominantly focused on White/Caucasian populations, limiting the generalizability of findings. Studies on racial and ethnic minorities indicate that mindfulness may buffer the negative effects of discrimination on sleep, but gaps remain in understanding cultural variations in mindfulness practice and sleep perception. Further research is needed to determine the mechanisms underlying mindfulness-based improvements in sleep and to develop tailored interventions addressing sleep health disparities in minority populations. Conclusions: We underscore critical research gaps in the study of mindfulness and sleep health among marginalized populations. Future research should examine biases in self-reported sleep measures, improve accuracy and applicability of objective sleep metrics, and investigate the intersection of mindfulness, sleep and social determinants of health. Addressing these disparities through culturally tailored mindfulness interventions may offer a pathway for improving sleep health across diverse communities.