Racial Differences in Sleep Outcomes in the First Two Years of College

This study investigated trajectories of ethnic and racial sleep disparities during the first two years of college, focusing on several dimensions of sleep. Ethnically and racially diverse first-year college students (n = 451; Asian = 19%, Black = 15%, Latinx = 19%, multiracial = 23%, White = 24%; female = 76%, male = 22%, non-binary = 2%) wore wrist actigraphs for two weeks every semester for four semesters. Findings suggest that across different sleep dimensions (duration, bedtime, risetime, and efficiency), ethnic and racial disparities emerge over time. White students had the most improvements in sleep over time, with increases in sleep duration and no change to their sleep efficiency. During this period, Black and Latinx students woke up later, white and multiracial students went to bed earlier, and Asian students had no change in bedtime or risetime. All racial and ethnic minority students declined in sleep efficiency. These findings document persisting ethnic and racial sleep disparities among diverse college students across a range of sleep dimensions and have implications for targeted interventions to improve sleep outcomes for diverse youth.