Sleep as a Protective Factor: Multiple Forms of Discrimination and Substance Use Intention Among Racially and...

Research has rarely examined biobehavioral factors in mitigating substance use (SU) risks associated with discrimination among racially and ethnically minoritized youth. This study investigated sleep duration as a potential moderator of the association between multiple forms of discrimination based on race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, and weight (i.e., multiple discrimination) and subsequent SU intention in this population.

Data were drawn from a national, longitudinal sample of racially and ethnically minoritized early adolescents (N = 3,495, M_age = 11.52 years) participating in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Multiple discrimination was assessed through aggregated youth reports at 1-year follow-up (Y1) and 2-year follow-up (Y2). Sleep duration was assessed at Y2 via self-reports in the full sample and actigraphy over 3 weeks in a subsample (N = 1,404). Youth reported SU intention at Y2 and 3-year follow-up (Y3). Relevant sociodemographic and psychosocial covariates were included.

Path analyses showed that more exposure to multiple discrimination was associated with greater subsequent SU intention, controlling for prior SU intention levels. However, this association was only significant among adolescents with shorter sleep duration on weekdays, not among those who slept longer (above 9.6 hours based on self-reports or 7.5 hours based on actigraphy) on weekdays. Actigraphy sleep duration mean and variability also exhibited nuanced linkages with subsequent SU intention.

Findings highlighted sleep duration as a promising lever of change for preventative interventions aiming to curb SU among racially and ethnically minoritized youth in early development.