UC Irvine

Discrimination has been posited as a contributor of sleep disparities for Latinxs. Strategy used to cope with discrimination may reduce or exacerbate its effects on sleep. This study examined whether different types of discrimination (everyday [ED] and lifetime [LD]) were associated with sleep indices (efficiency, quality, disturbances) and whether coping strategy used moderated associations. Data of Latinx adults (N=602; 51% female, 65% Dominican, M age =46.72 years) were from the Latino Health and Well-being Project. Multiple linear regressions were estimated separately for each sleep outcome. ED was significantly associated with poorer sleep quality and greater disturbances; LD was significantly associated with worse sleep across the three indices. Coping strategy moderated associations between discrimination and sleep. Compared to Latinxs who used passive coping, those who used passive-active coping strategies had poorer sleep quality the more they experienced ED. Latinxs who used any active coping strategy, compared to passive coping, had greater sleep disturbances the more they reported LD. Findings show that ED and LD impair sleep and suggest that coping with discrimination may require the use of different strategies depending on the type of discrimination experienced.