Sleep problems are common among Americans, but a growing body of research reveals glaring racial and ethnic disparities in sleep quality and quantity that have major health consequences.
Compared with white Americans, people who are African American or Black, Hispanic or Latinx, American Indian, Native Alaskan, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander are more likely to have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and getting deep, restorative sleep. These groups are also more likely to have sleep disorders such as insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, yet are less likely to receive a doctor’s diagnosis and get treatment for these problems, researchers have found. (We’ll dive into the numbers below.)
Read more about JPB Fellow Chandra Jackson’s research.