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Social Pain Minimization Mediates Discrimination's Effect on Sleep Health.
Jonathan W Kunstman1, Shruti S Kinkel-Ram2, Kyle L Benbow1
1Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, USA.
Behavioral Sleep Medicine
|November 7, 2024
Summary
Discrimination negatively impacts sleep quality for Black Americans through psychological mechanisms like emotion invalidation, termed Social Pain Minimization (SPM). This research highlights how racism damages sleep and contributes to health inequities.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sleep Science
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Discrimination is a known stressor impacting sleep and health inequities among Black Americans.
- The psychological pathways linking discrimination to poor sleep quality require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine if emotion invalidation, conceptualized as Social Pain Minimization (SPM), mediates the relationship between discrimination and sleep quality in Black Americans.
- To understand the psychological mechanisms underlying the impact of racism on sleep.
Main Methods:
- Four studies were conducted with cross-sectional and cross-lagged panel designs (N=1,176).
- Discrimination and SPM were measured using established scales.
- Sleep quality was assessed using multiple self-report measures, including the PROMIS Sleep-Related Impairment (SRI) subscale and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).
Main Results:
- Mediation analyses revealed that discrimination negatively affects sleep quality, with SPM partially explaining this association.
- Results were consistent across cross-sectional (Studies 1a-1b) and longitudinal (Studies 2-3) analyses.
- Confidence intervals for the mediation effects were statistically significant, indicating a robust finding.
Conclusions:
- Discrimination not only directly impacts sleep but also operates through Social Pain Minimization (SPM) to reduce sleep quality.
- Emotion invalidation experienced due to discrimination plays a crucial role in damaging sleep quality for Black Americans.
- Addressing SPM may be a key target for interventions aimed at improving sleep and mitigating health inequities.
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