Gendered Racial Microaggressions and Sleep Quality: Examining the Potential Mediating Role of Mental Health in Asian...

Asian American women in women-majority service and care occupations frequently encounter gendered racial microaggressions. Guided by intersectionality theory, this study examined whether depressive and anxiety symptoms statistically mediate the association between gendered racial microaggressions and sleep quality in a cross-sectional sample. We conducted an online survey of 356 Asian American women in Minnesota (September-October 2024) via community-partner outreach. Gendered racial microaggressions were measured with the Gendered Racial Microaggression Scale for Asian American Women (GRMS-AAW) subscales (Ascribed Submissiveness, Asian Fetishism, Media Invalidation, Assumption of Universal Appearance). Using path models, we estimated direct and indirect paths: one model with a composite GRMS score and four with each subscale as the exposure. Higher composite GRMS scores were associated with poorer sleep and with elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms; both symptoms partially mediated the GRMS-sleep association. Across subscale models, mediation was generally partial, and anxiety emerged as a more consistent mediator than depression. Findings indicate that gendered racial microaggressions are linked to poorer sleep in part through worse mental health, while acknowledging that temporal ordering cannot be established with cross-sectional data. Screening for gendered racial microaggressions and related symptoms may inform integrated care addressing mood and sleep. Organizational practices aimed at reducing gendered racial microaggressions-especially in women-majority service and care settings-may support mental health and sleep among Asian American women. Longitudinal and intervention studies are warranted.