Public Health, Black Culture, Health Equity
Religiosity and Spirituality as Stressors or Stress Relievers in relation to Sleep Health among African American Women
Rupsha Singh, Symielle A. Gaston, Jason Ashe, Quaker E. Harmon, Yusuf Ransome, Ganesa Wegienka, Donna D. Baird, Harold G. Koenig, Chandra L. Jackson
June 12, 2026 at 9:19:54 AM
Abstract
This study investigated associations between religiosity/spirituality (R/S) and sleep, and potential modification by stress, among 1,693 Black/African American women in the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, & Fibroids (2010-2018). Participants reported importance of faith and R/S as a source of strength/comfort, frequency of prayer/meditation, and repeated measures of daily stress, short sleep duration, nonrestorative sleep (NRS), and insomnia symptoms. Higher R/S was cross-sectionally associated with lower NRS prevalence, but protective associations were limited to participants with low/no stress. Daily prayer/meditation was associated with NRS overall, while R/S as a source of strength/comfort was associated with restorative sleep among highly stressed women. R/S was not longitudinally associated with sleep.
NIEHS-led longitudinal study of 1,693 Black/African American women examining how religiosity and spirituality relate to sleep health, with stress as a potential moderator. Protective associations between R/S and nonrestorative sleep were observed mainly among women reporting low stress.