0261 The Social Determinants of Sleep in Emerging Adulthood

Abstract Introduction Emerging adults, especially Black college students, are at risk for poor sleep outcomes. Race and family support are crucial factors linked to sleep, yet lifestyle and health factors are frequently investigated in this population. We examined sleep quality as a mediator of the association between race-related stress and depression at varying levels of housing security and kinship support. Methods Black students attending a large predominantly White institute (n = 93, 86. 02% female, Mage = 21. 7 years, 41. 9% low SES) reported on sleep quality, race-related experiences, family factors, and depression. A moderated mediation model was tested using methods established by Baron and Kenny (1986). Participants’ sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (Buysse et al. , 1989). 86% of participants reported poor sleep based on the recommended cutoff (5 points) established by Buysse (1989), with a higher score indicating poorer sleep quality. Results Sleep partially mediated the association between race-related stress and depression. A significant association between race-related stress and depression was found in a simple mediation analysis (b=0. 25, p 0. 001), however, the relationship between race-related stress and depression was non-significant (b=0. 114, p=0. 07) after introducing sleep as a mediator. Sleep was a significant predictor of depression (b=1. 69, p 0. 001), and its inclusion significantly improved the model, explaining an additional 25 percent of the variance in depression (R²=0. 25, p 0. 001). Associations between race-related stress and sleep quality varied by the level of kinship support and housing security. The association of race-related stress with depression through sleep is significant for participants with low kinship support (b =. 220, p 0. 001), but not for those with high kinship support (b=. 056, p=. 364). Similarly, the association of race-related stress with depression through sleep was significant for participants experiencing housing insecurity (b=. 175, p. 001), but not for those experiencing housing security (b=. 07, p =. 211). Conclusion The conditional effects of kinship support and housing security emphasize the crucial role of social support in mitigating the adverse effects of racial stress on sleep. Our findings demonstrate the interplay of race, sleep, and adjustment, suggesting the importance of tailored interventions for promoting the well-being of Black college students. Support (if any)