What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to describe sleep health among Black and Latina women of childbearing age and identify associated risk and protective factors.

May 10, 2026

1071 Sleep, Mental Health, and Protective Factors Among Black and Latina Women of Childbearing Age

Key Points

The study aims to describe sleep health among Black and Latina women of childbearing age and identify associated risk and protective factors.
Cross-sectional study involving women aged 18-49 who identify as Black and/or Hispanic/Latina.
Participants self-reported sleep characteristics using various scales including ISI and PSQI, alongside mental health measures.
Linear regression was used to explore relationships between mental health and sleep outcomes, adjusted for demographics.
50% reported insomnia symptoms (ISI >7), indicating significant sleep challenges.
40% exhibited symptoms of depression and anxiety, with 79% reporting high stress.
Mental health issues correlated with poorer sleep quality, with beliefs about sleep partially mediating these effects.

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Sleep deficiency is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Black and Latina women experience disproportionate psychosocial stressors and disparities in maternal-child outcomes, but sleep health among these women is poorly understood. The aims of this study are to (1) describe sleep health among Black and Latina women of childbearing age and (2) examine risk and protective factors for sleep among these women. Methods We used data from an ongoing cross-sectional study of sleep health among women age 18 to 49 years who self-identify as Black and/or Hispanic/Latina. Women self-reported sleep characteristics Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) sleep-related daytime symptoms Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), PROMIS Fatigue, and sleep-related cognitions (Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale). Women also reported their mental health (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, PROMIS Anxiety Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist) and protective factors (Brief Resilience Scale, Multidimensional Scale Of Perceived Social Support). We examined relationships between mental health and sleep using linear regression adjusted for demographics. We then tested whether these relationships were mediated by sleep-related cognitions or moderated by protective factors. Results Women (N=209, M age=27.7, SD=8.79 years) identified as Hispanic/Latina (49%), non-Hispanic Black (31%), Hispanic Black (10%), and multiracial (10%). Women frequently reported insomnia symptoms (50%, ISI 7), poor sleep quality (48%, PSQI 5), excessive daytime sleepiness (36%, ESS10), and fatigue (52%, t-score 55). Depression (40%), anxiety (40%), stress (79%), PTSD symptoms (39%), and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep (53%) were also common. Mental health symptoms were associated with worse insomnia symptoms, poor sleep quality, and more sleep-related daytime symptoms (□s=.21-.52; ps.001). These relationships were partially mediated by dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep but were not buffered by social support or resilience. Conclusion Black and Latina women of childbearing age report significantly higher sleep and mental health challenges compared to the general United States population. Sleep-related cognitions may be a critical target for interventions to reduce sleep-related disparities among these women. Individual-level protective factors did not buffer the effects of mental health on sleep, highlighting the need for multi-level approaches to address social determinants of sleep health. Support (if any) R01HL168770

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