Vicarious Racism, Ethnic/Racial Identity, and Sleep Among Asian Americans

Public Significance Statement This study suggests that among Asian Americans in the United States, experiences of vicarious racism during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic had detrimental impacts on sleep quality and duration. Two facets of ethnic/racial identity-private regard and centrality-may serve to buffer the negative effects of vicarious racism on sleep. These findings demonstrate the importance of addressing racism as a public health threat and provide greater understanding of the role that ethnic/racial identity may play in protecting against the negative impacts of this unique, and increasingly salient, form of racism on sleep outcomes. Objectives: Vicarious racism-witnessing or hearing about other individuals of one's ethnic/racial group being the target of racism-has been salient among Asian Americans during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. There is emerging evidence that such experiences adversely impact several health-related outcomes, including sleep. The present study examines associations between vicarious racism and subjective sleep duration and quality, and the potential moderating role of ethnic/racial identity (ERI). Method: Multivariable regression models assessed the association between vicarious racism, private regard, and centrality on self-reported sleep disturbance and duration. The sample consisted of an online sample of 600 Asian American adults (M (age) = 38.55, SD (age) = 17.11; 65.17% female; 60% >= Bachelor's degree) recruited from May to June 2020. Results: Vicarious racism was associated with compromised sleep quality and duration, including after adjustment for sociodemographic variables that have been linked to sleep. Private regard toward one's own ethnic/racial group and centrality of ethnicity/race to self-identity buffered the association between vicarious racism and sleep quality and duration. Adverse effects of high vicarious racism on sleep quality and duration were lessened among respondents reporting high levels of ERI private regard and centrality. Conclusions: Findings from this study extend research on racism and sleep by examining vicarious racism, an understudied facet of racism, and by focusing specifically on Asian Americans and in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research and practice should consider expanding research on discrimination to include a broader range of unjust experiences. Vicarious racism contributes to health hazards experienced by Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.