Anxiety sensitivity and racial differences in sleep duration: Results from a national survey of adults with cardiovascular disease

- Anxiety sensitivity was associated with increased odds of short sleep duration.
- Black vs. White race was associated with increased odds of short sleep duration.
- Blacks had higher mean anxiety sensitivity scores than non-Hispanic Whites.
- Anxiety sensitivity partially mediated Black-White differences in sleep duration.

Although Blacks sleep between 37 and 75 min less per night than non-Hispanic Whites, research into what drives racial differences in sleep duration is limited. We examined the association of anxiety sensitivity, a cognitive vulnerability, and race (Blacks vs. White) with short sleep duration (<7 h of sleep/night), and whether anxiety sensitivity mediated race differences in sleep duration in a nationally representative sample of adults with cardiovascular disease. Overall, 1289 adults (115 Black, 1174 White) with a self-reported physician/health professional diagnosis of ≥1 myocardial infarction completed an online survey. Weighted multivariable logistic regressions and mediation analyses with bootstrapping and case resampling were conducted. Anxiety sensitivity and Black vs. White race were associated with 4%-84% increased odds, respectively, of short sleep duration. Anxiety sensitivity mediated Black-White differences in sleep duration. Each anxiety sensitivity subscale was also a significant mediator. Implications for future intervention science to address sleep disparities are discussed.