Sleep Disorders in South–South Latino Migrants: The Role of Acculturation in the Subjective Assessment of Insomnia Symptoms

Research on sleep disorders among migrant populations is limited, particularly in the context of south-south Latinos migrating to other Latin American countries. <b>Objective:</b> This study aims to analyze the effect that the acculturation process may play on the presence of the subjective assessment of insomnia symptoms in South American migrants in Chile. <b>Methods:</b> Under a cross-sectional design, 1844 South American migrants from Colombia, Venezuela and Peru, currently residing in Chile, were evaluated. Of these, 50% were women with an average age of 35 years. Data were collected using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the EBEA scale for acculturation stress, a scale based on Berry's acculturation strategies, and the anxiety subscale of the DASS-21. Mediation models were employed to assess anxiety as a mediating variable between both acculturation stress and acculturation orientations as well as insomnia symptoms. <b>Results:</b> A home-country-focused orientation was inversely related to insomnia symptoms, whereas a host-country-focused orientation showed a direct association. Anxiety did not mediate either of these relationships. However, acculturation stress was directly associated with the emergence of insomnia symptoms; in this relationship, anxiety partially mediated the negative effect of stress on sleep. <b>Conclusions:</b> There is a complex and dynamic interplay between the acculturation process, insomnia, and anxiety within south-to-south migration in Latin countries. Understanding these relationships could promote culturally sensitive interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of migration-related stressors on sleep health and the overall well-being of Latino migrants.