Insomnia symptoms in a multiethnic sample of American women.
BACKGROUND
Ethnic disparities in socioeconomic factors, risk markers, and coping styles affect health status. This study examined whether those factors influence insomnia symptoms in a multiethnic sample of urban American women.


METHODS
Women (n = 1440, average age = 59.5 +/- 6.45 years) participating in the study were recruited using a stratified, cluster sampling technique. The sample comprises African Americans (22%), English-speaking Caribbeans (22%), Haitians (22%), Dominicans (12%), Eastern Europeans (11%), and European Americans (11%). Trained staff conducted face-to-face interviews lasting 1.5 hours acquiring demographic, health, and sleep data.


RESULTS
Analysis indicated significant ethnic differences in socioeconomics, risk markers, and health characteristics. The prevalence of insomnia symptoms (defined as either difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, or early morning awakening) among African Americans was 71%, English-speaking Caribbeans 34%, Haitians 33%, Dominicans 73%, Eastern Europeans 77%, and European Americans 70%. Hierarchical regression results showed that ethnicity explained 20% of the variance in the insomnia variable. Sociodemographic factors explained 5% of the variance, risk markers explained 5%, medical factors 20%, and coping styles 1%. Goodness-of-fit test indicated the model was reliable [chi-square = 276, p < 0.001], explaining 51% of the variance.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings show interethnic heterogeneity in insomnia symptoms, even among groups previously assumed to be homogeneous. Different factors seemingly influence rates of insomnia symptoms within each ethnic group examined. These findings have direct relevance in the management of sleep problems among women of different ethnic backgrounds. Understanding of ethnic/cultural factors affecting the sleep experience is important in interpreting subjective sleep data.
Jean-Louis
Giardin
G
Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Brooklyn Center for Health Disparities, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11203-2098, USA. gjean-louis@downstate.edu
Magai
Carol
C
Casimir
Georges J
GJ
Zizi
Ferdinand
F
Moise
Frantz
F
McKenzie
Dexter
D
Graham
Yvonne
Y
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*