Negative acculturation in sleep duration among Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans

Negative acculturation, the increase in high-risk profiles as immigrants live longer in the U.S., is found for a range of health behaviors and outcomes among Latino populations. Yet it has never been explored with regard to sleep duration. Using the National Health Interview Survey, we investigate Mexican immigrant and U.S.-born Mexican-American sleep durations. U.S.-born Mexican Americans are around 40% (P < 0.05) more likely to be short sleepers than Mexican immigrants after adjusting for demographic characteristics. These relationships are attenuated with the addition of health behavior variables (OR = 1.25, n.s.). This is explained because U.S.-born Mexican Americans have higher rates of smoking and stress levels, both of which are associated with increased risks of short sleeping. Because chronic partial sleep deprivation may increase health risks directly and indirectly through impaired judgment, sleep may be a mechanism through which health disparities between Mexican immigrants and U.S.-born Mexican Americans emerge.