Sexual Orientation Disparities in Early Adolescent Sleep: Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine associations between sexual minority status (e.g., gay or bisexual) and sleep problems in a demographically diverse, national sample of U.S. early adolescents.
Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (Year 2, 2018–2020) to estimate associations between sexual orientation and sleep problems or disturbance, adjusting for confounders and testing potential mediators (depressive problems, stress problems, family conflict, and parental monitoring).
Results: In a sample of 8563 adolescents 10- to 14-years-old, 4.4% identified as sexual minority individuals. Sexual minority status was associated with self-reported trouble falling or staying asleep (risk ratio [RR] = 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.88–2.68) and caregiver-reported sleep disturbance (RR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.29–1.75). The association between sexual minority status and trouble falling or staying asleep was partially mediated by greater depressive problems, more family conflict, and less parental monitoring, whereas the association between sexual minority status and caregiver-reported sleep disturbance was partially mediated by greater depressive problems, higher stress, and greater family conflict.
Conclusions: Our results indicate that sexual minority status may be linked to sleep disturbance in early adolescence. Depressive problems, stress, family conflict, and less parental monitoring partially mediate disparities in sleep health for sexual minority youth. Future research could test interventions to promote family and caregiver acceptance and mental health support for sexual minority youth to improve their sleep and other health outcomes.
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The funders had no role in the study analysis, decision to publish the study, or the preparation of the article.
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Copyright 2023, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
History
Published in print: July 2023
Published online: 27 June 2023
Published ahead of print: 21 March 2023
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Authors' Contributions
J.M.N.: Conceptualization; writing—original draft and reviewing; formal analysis; supervision. C.M.L.: writing—original draft, review, and editing. J.H.Y.: Data analysis; writing—original draft, review, and editing. O.K., K.T.G., A.T., D.B.J.: writing—review, and editing. A.A.A.A.-s.: Data analysis; writing—review and editing. F.C.B.: Conceptualization; methodology; writing—review and editing.
Author Disclosure Statement
The authors have no conflict to declare.
Funding Information
J.M.N. was supported by the National Institutes of Health (K08HL159350) and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (2022056).
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