0254 Acculturative Stress Is Associated with Sleep-Related Impairment Among a Sample of Rural and Urban Latinos/as

Abstract Introduction Latinos/as in the United States face distinctive sociocultural stressors rooted in their marginalized status, immigration experiences, and challenges adapting to a new culture. These stressors, including acculturative stress, contribute to elevated stress levels that can have detrimental effects on sleep health and may engender sleep-related impairment. While the association between stress and sleep difficulties is well-documented, the impact of acculturative stress on Latinos/as sleep health remains an understudied area. This study aims to illuminate the relationship between acculturative stress and sleep, highlighting a critical aspect of sleep health within this demographic. Methods This work utilized data from DORMIR, an NIH-funded study investigating multi-level determinants of sleep and heart health outcomes among urban and rural Latinos/as. Participants in New York and Florida completed surveys capturing biological, clinical, behavioral, psychosocial, and environmental determinants of health, including the Sleep-Related Impairment (SRI) and the Multidimensional Acculturation Stress Inventory (MASI) measures. We hypothesized that acculturative stress will be associated with sleep impairment outcomes and differentially across two locations. Linear regression analyses were performed to determine if acculturative stress predicted sleep-related impairments differentially in different geographical regions. Results Florida’s sample (n=241, 35.6±14.7 years, 71% female) differed from New York’s sample (n=112, 33.6±12.6 years, 61% female). For Florida participants, the average SRI score was 8.32±3.53 and the MASI score was 76.7±7.56. For New York participants, the average SRI was 9.35±3.50 and the MASI score was 87.6±25.1. Acculturative stress was found to be significantly associated with sleep-related impairment in Florida [F(1,239) = 8.95, p=0.003] and New York [F(1,110) = 11.8, p=0.008]. Regression analysis indicates greater acculturative stress predicted higher sleep related impairment in Florida (β1=0.08) and New York (β1=0.04), albeit a greater magnitude was observed in Florida. Conclusion Higher levels of acculturative stress predicted greater sleep-related impairments among Latinos/as in Florida and New York. With the recent influx of immigrants at the U.S southern border, this study illustrates the importance of addressing unique stressors like acculturative stress and its effect on sleep health among these populations. Further studies are needed focusing on reducing acculturation stress as a meaningful intervention for improving sleep health among Latinos/as in the United States. Support (if any) R01HL152453