Sleep Duration and Sleep Problems in Non-Hispanic Black Adults: a Cross-Sectional Study of the 2015-2020 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey

OBJECTIVE:Previous research indicates that non-Hispanic Black adults are more likely to report extremes in sleep duration and worse levels of sleep quality compared to their White counterparts. However, studies examining predictors of sleep among Black adults are limited. This study addressed this gap by examining sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with sleep duration and sleep problems among non-Hispanic Black adults. METHODS:Data from 3,367 non-Hispanic Black adults in the United States, aged ≥20 years, were obtained by combining the 2015-2016 and 2017- March 2020 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Logistic regression models were fit to examine factors associated with sleep duration and sleep problems (history of trouble sleeping or excessive daytime sleepiness). RESULTS:The prevalence of recommended (7-9 h), short (<7 h), and long sleep duration (>9 h) was 53.9%, 33.0%, and 13.1%, respectively. The prevalence of sleep problems was 40.5%. Short sleep duration was positively associated with male gender, some college education, working ≥45 h per week, and history of sleep problems, and negatively associated with unemployment. Long sleep duration was positively associated with less than a college education, a family monthly poverty level index ≤1.30, being unemployed or retired, and fair or poor self-rated health, and negatively associated with female gender, age ≥45 years, and working ≥45 h per week. Sleep problems were positively associated with unemployment, mild to severe depressive symptoms, chronic medical conditions, fair or poor self-rated health, heavy alcohol consumption, and negatively associated with male gender, age ≥45 years, being foreign-born, and having a high school education or less. CONCLUSION:This study identified several sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with sleep, which can inform future research and policy and support the development of tailored clinical and public health interventions aimed at improving sleep health among non-Hispanic Black adults.