Sleep disturbance mediates the relationship between perceived racism and depressive symptoms.

OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of racism on sleep disturbance and depression and to examine whether sleep disturbance mediates the effects of racism on depression. DESIGN Cross-sectional questionnaire study. SETTING Community. PARTICIPANTS 168 Hispanic-American immigrants, 45% female, average age 33 years, average length of time living in the United States was 5 years. MEASURES The Perceived Racism Scale for Latinos, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) Scale. RESULTS Using hierarchical linear regression analyses, perceived racism was related to increased sleep disturbance (b=.21, P<.01) and higher levels of depressive symptoms (b=.24, P<.01). When sleep disturbance was included in the regression equation, perceived racism was no longer a significant predictor of depressive symptoms (b=.10, nonsignificant), indicating that sleep disturbance mediated the relationship between perceived racism and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This study adds to the research literature by identifying sleep disturbance as a potential pathway through which perceived racism may affect health.