0954 Perceived Stress, Acculturation, and Sleep Among Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Mothers

Abstract Introduction Recent research highlights persistent sleep disparities by immigrant status, yet less is known about the upstream psychosocial determinants, particularly among new parents, needed to guide tailored support. This study examines generational differences in acculturation and perceived stress and how they relate to sleep among parents of infants. Methods 1,274 mothers of children 0–24 months (10.07±6.8) participated in this study. 957 were non-immigrant, 134 first-generation, and 183 second-generation. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale (SMAS) consisting of two subscales: Ethnic Society Immersion (ESI), indicating engagement with one’s heritage culture, and Dominant Society Immersion (DSI), indicating engagement with mainstream U.S. cultural norms. Sleep outcomes included the overall Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score and seven individual components. Acculturation differences were assessed with independent samples t-tests. Generational status’ association with parental stress was tested with multiple linear regressions controlling for parent age, income, education, and employment. Associations between perceived stress and maternal sleep outcomes, as well as associations between acculturation and mothers' sleep, were examined using linear regression adjusting for child's age. Results Second-generation mothers had the highest perceived stress levels (M=16.98±6.68,p< 0.001). Higher perceived stress was associated with higher global PSQI scores (β=0.23,SE=0.01,p< 0.001), poorer sleep quality (β=0.04,SE=0.003,p< 0.001), longer sleep latency (β=0.04,SE=0.004,p< 0.001), shorter sleep duration (β=0.03, SE=0.004,p< 0.001), lower sleep efficiency (β =0.04,SE=0.005,p< 0.001), greater sleep disturbance (β=0.02,SE=0.002,p< 0.001), more frequent sleep medication use (β=0.02,SE=0.004,p< 0.001), and greater daytime dysfunction (β=0.06,SE=0.003,p< 0.001). Second-generation mothers reported significantly higher DSI (M=3.71±0.28,p< 0.001) than first-generation mothers (M=3.5±0.28, p< 0.001), but no differences in ESI. Higher ESI was associated with better sleep, including better overall sleep quality (β=–0.79,SE=0.39,p=0.04) and higher sleep efficiency (β=–0.17,SE=0.05,p=0.002). Similarly, higher DSI was associated with lower daytime dysfunction (β=–0.28,SE=0.12,p=0.023). Conclusion These findings highlight differences in acculturation and perceived stress across immigrant generational groups. We found that second generation immigrant mothers show greater dominant-society immersion and report higher perceived stress than first-generation and non-immigrant mothers. In turn, higher perceived stress and weaker ethnic-society immersion are associated with worse parental sleep, suggesting potential psychosocial pathways that link generational status to sleep health. Support (if any)