Sleep and the housing and neighborhood environment of urban Latino adults living in low-income housing: The AHOME Study

Background

Latinos are at increased risk for many chronic diseases for which inadequate sleep may be an important risk factor. While many Latinos in the U.S. live in low-income areas that lack the resources to support a healthy lifestyle, little is known about the living conditions in these areas that may influence sleep. The purpose of this study was to examine whether housing and neighborhood conditions were associated with sleep outcomes among Latino adults living in low-income housing.

Measurements

Latino adults eligible for federal housing rental assistance and living in low-income housing in the Bronx, New York were recruited between 2010- 2012 (n=370). Household crowding and neighborhood physical and social disorder were measured using a composite score of questionnaire items asked during the in-home interview. Sleep outcomes included self-reported sleep quality, short (<6.5 h) and long sleep duration (≥8.5 h), sleep disturbances (mean score), and sleep latency (≥3 nights/week).

Results

Household crowding was positively associated with short sleep duration (p<.01), poor sleep quality (p<.01), and frequency of sleep disturbance (p<.01). Neighborhood physical disorder was associated with sleep disturbance (b=.132, p<.05) and poor sleep quality (OR=1.75, 95% CI=1.17-2.62). Neighborhood social disorder was associated with increased sleep disturbances (b=.140, p<.05), poor sleep quality (OR=1.87, 95% CI= 1.28-2.74), and sleep latency (OR=1.45, 95% CI= 1.10-2.08). Perceived building problems were associated with sleep disturbance (b=.159, p<.05), poor sleep quality (OR=2.01, 95% CI=1.28-3.17), and sleep latency (OR=1.74, 95% CI= 1.13-2.67).

Conclusion

Adverse conditions of both the housing and neighborhood environments can undermine adequate sleep.