Abstract
This book chapter describes the prevalence, burden, and causes of poor sleep health (duration, sleep disorders, efficiency, sleep quality, sleepiness/alertness, and timing/chronotype) patterns among racial and ethnic minorities. Disparities of sleep health exist across racial/ethnic groups, as Blacks, Latina/os, Asians, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders have a high burden of insufficient sleep, sleep deprivation, and poor sleep quality. Meanwhile, Asians and native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders consistently report greater sleep complaints, and Blacks report greater levels of sleepiness compared to other groups. Poor sleep health can be attributed to a variety of causes, including biological (circadian rhythm), behavioral (diet and exercise), psychosocial factors (stress, mental health, poverty, social demands), and environmental factors (noise and light), which we describe in detail. Lastly, this chapter describes how the burden of poor sleep health among racial/ethnic groups is linked to adverse health outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and mental health problems. At the end, evidence-based ideas for policies, action, and research agenda were presented to walk the talk of sleep health equity.