Insomnia symptoms in a multiethnic sample of American women.

BACKGROUND: Ethnic disparities in socioeconomic factors, risk markers, and coping styles affect health status. This study examined whether those factors influence insomnia symptoms in a multiethnic sample of urban American women. METHODS: Women (n = 1440, average age = 59.5 +/- 6.45 years) participating in the study were recruited using a stratified, cluster sampling technique. The sample comprises African Americans (22%), English-speaking Caribbeans (22%), Haitians (22%), Dominicans (12%), Eastern Europeans (11%), and European Americans (11%). Trained staff conducted face-to-face interviews lasting 1.5 hours acquiring demographic, health, and sleep data. RESULTS: Analysis indicated significant ethnic differences in socioeconomics, risk markers, and health characteristics. The prevalence of insomnia symptoms (defined as either difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, or early morning awakening) among African Americans was 71%, English-speaking Caribbeans 34%, Haitians 33%, Dominicans 73%, Eastern Europeans 77%, and European Americans 70%. Hierarchical regression results showed that ethnicity explained 20% of the variance in the insomnia variable. Sociodemographic factors explained 5% of the variance, risk markers explained 5%, medical factors 20%, and coping styles 1%. Goodness-of-fit test indicated the model was reliable [chi-square = 276, p < 0.001], explaining 51% of the variance. CONCLUSIONS: Findings show interethnic heterogeneity in insomnia symptoms, even among groups previously assumed to be homogeneous. Different factors seemingly influence rates of insomnia symptoms within each ethnic group examined. These findings have direct relevance in the management of sleep problems among women of different ethnic backgrounds. Understanding of ethnic/cultural factors affecting the sleep experience is important in interpreting subjective sleep data.

Ophthalmic dysfunction in a community-based sample: influence of race/ethnicity.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have characterized ethnic variations in standard ophthalmic measures. We tested the hypothesis that nerve fiber layer thickness would show characteristic differences between white and black individuals. We also examined whether ophthalmic measures would show intraethnic differences. METHODS: Seventy participants (mean age: 68.27+/- 5.97 years; blacks: 59% and whites: 41%) were recruited from Brooklyn communities. Sociodemographic and medical data were obtained, and eligible volunteers underwent eye examinations at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. RESULTS: ANCOVA showed that blacks were characterized by significantly worse visual acuity (F=4.14, p=0.05), larger horizontal and vertical cup-to-disk ratios (F=4.53, p=0.04; F=6.08, p=0.02, respectively), and thinner nerve fiber layer than their white counterparts (F=22.61, p=0.009). Within the black ethnicity itself, Caribbean Americans showed significantly thinner nerve fiber layer than did African Americans (F=7.52, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Findings are consistent with previous reports of racial/ethnic differences in ophthalmic measures. Moreover, they suggest that black ethnicity may not be homogeneous regarding ophthalmic variables, particularly when examining nerve fiber layer thickness. Studies investigating ethnic differences in eye diseases should examine intragroup factors that could influence interpretation of clinical data.