Racial and ethnic variations in sleep outcomes following a Brief Sleep Intervention in United States Air Force Technical Training students

Objective: Racial and ethnic minorities in civilian and military populations report worse sleep health than non-Hispanic Whites. A group-based, single-session Brief Sleep Intervention for United States Air Force trainees improved sleep outcomes, yet the effects across racial and ethnic groups remain unclear. This secondary analysis examined racial and ethnic differences in sleep outcomes and behavior change engagement following the Brief Sleep Intervention. Methods: The sample included 321 United States Air Force Technical Training students (mean age 20.9 ± 3.6; 81.9% men; 51.7% non-Hispanic Whites; 24.3% Hispanic; 23.4% non-Hispanic People of Color). Weekday sleep duration and quality along with weekend catch-up sleep duration were assessed at baseline and 2-week follow-up. At follow-up, Brief Sleep Intervention participants reported engagement in a self-selected behavior change action. Propensity score–adjusted logistic and linear regression models were used. Results: Among Hispanic students, those in the Brief Sleep Intervention group were more likely to achieve a weekday sleep duration of ≥6 hours and report good/very good weekend sleep compared with those in the active control group. Within the Brief Sleep Intervention group, as compared with non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic People of Color students, Hispanic students showed higher rates of weekday sleep duration ≥6 hours, good/very good weekday sleep quality, and engagement in a behavior change action than non-Hispanic Whites. Conclusions: Hispanic students who received the Brief Sleep Intervention demonstrated superior sleep outcomes and higher behavior change engagement compared with students from other racial and ethnic groups. Further research should investigate factors driving these differences and identify aspects of the Brief Sleep Intervention that contribute to its effectiveness for Hispanic United States Air Force trainees.