Patient-Centered Communication and Sleep Health Among Chinese Sexual Minorities: Examining the Roles of Social Support and Health Orientation

While extensive research has explored patient-centered communication (PCC)'s therapeutic effects, less attention has been paid to its impact on sexual minority groups and their sleep health. Guided by Street's pathway model of health communication, this study investigates the relationships between PCC, health orientation, social support, and sleep health among sexual minorities. Specifically, it examined whether health orientation mediated the association between PCC and sleep health, and whether social support moderated this indirect relationship. Results from a national survey in China (<i>N</i> = 273) showed that PCC indirectly influenced sleep health among sexual minorities through its positive association with health orientation. Specifically, PCC was positively associated with health orientation, which, in turn, was linked to improved sleep health. Additionally, social support moderated this indirect relationship, with the effect of PCC on sleep health via health orientation being significant only at high levels of social support. This study provides insights for healthcare providers and policymakers to address health disparities among sexual minorities. Implementing patient-centered strategies, fostering social support networks, and promoting health orientation can contribute to improved sleep health and overall well-being among sexual minority individuals.