The association of acculturative stress with self-reported sleep disturbance and sleep duration among Asian Americans

[摘要] Study Objectives This study aims to examine associations between acculturative stress—defined as the psychological impact, or stress reaction, of adapting to a new cultural context—and self-reported sleep outcomes among Chinese and Korean immigrants in the United States.Methods In this cross-sectional study, acculturative stress was assessed using a 9-item scale, and sleep disturbance was measured using the 8-item scale. Sleep duration was self-reported. Poisson and linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between acculturative stress, sleep disturbance, and sleep duration.Results Our sample consists of 400 participants (females: 52%, Chinese: 50%, Koreans: 50%, the mean of age = 58.4). 81.8% of them were classified as having no sleep disturbance, whereas 18.2% were classified as having sleep disturbance. Poisson models revealed that greater acculturative stress was associated with a higher prevalence of sleep disturbance (Prevalence Ratio (PR): 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06% to 1.31%). In linear models, a one-unit increase in acculturative stress was associated with 0.08 hr less sleep (p < .05). Interaction tests indicated effect modification for sleep disturbance by sex and ethnic identity: only women had a significant association between acculturative stress and sleep disturbance (PR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.49), while the association was significant for individuals identifying as “very Asian” (PR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.35), but not for those identifying as “mostly Asian” or “bicultural/western”.Conclusions If findings are replicated, we suggest developing intervention programs for Asian immigrants to minimize acculturative stress and bolster protective factors that decrease the risk for poor sleep outcomes.

[学科分类] 生理学

[关键词] Asian Americans;sleep;acculturative stress;emigrants and immigrants