February 7th 2024.
A recently published study in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine has revealed a disturbing trend among Black individuals: each time news of another unarmed Black person killed by the police surfaces, they are robbed of a valuable resource: sleep. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, found that exposure to reports of "officer-involved killings" resulted in an increase in short and very short sleep among Black adults.
Dr. Atheendar Venkataramani, the lead researcher of the study, explained that this lack of sleep is a direct result of the traumatic experience of witnessing police violence, which disproportionately affects Black individuals. This not only has a negative impact on their mental, physical, and emotional well-being, but it also highlights the pervasive issue of structural racism in our society.
The study monitored changes in sleep duration among Black and white adults, using data from two federal surveys and linking it to information on officer-involved killings. The results showed that 46% of Black adults experienced short sleep, and 18.4% experienced very short sleep, compared to 33% and 10.4% respectively for white adults.
The researchers also noted that this lack of sleep is often linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as the awareness of police violence can lead to feelings of diminished well-being, paranoia, and hypervigilance, as well as increased stress levels.
However, the study also acknowledged that, even without this specific stressor, Black individuals typically get less sleep than their white counterparts due to the systemic racism ingrained in American society. In fact, during a panel discussion at the SLEEP 2022 conference, experts argued that it is not race itself, but rather racism, that is the root cause of this disparity.
Benjamin Reiss, a professor at Emory University, explained that the historical and ongoing oppression of Black individuals in America has a profound impact on their ability to rest. He stated, "When we see sleep disparities today, we are also seeing the effects of history that lives on in the body. The centuries-long, oppressive conditions that produce disparities are created and justified by people who took their own access to comfort, safety, privacy, and hygiene for granted."
Karen Lincoln, a professor at UCI, also highlighted the impact of racism on sleep for Black individuals. She noted that even with higher incomes and education levels, Black individuals are still subjected to stressors related to law enforcement, racism, work environments, families, and neighborhoods, making it difficult for them to get quality sleep.
In order to move forward and address this issue, Lincoln emphasized the need to listen to and address the concerns of Black communities. She stated, "To move forward, we must listen and address the issues African American residents, communities, and organizations have identified as problems and priorities. We must all acknowledge the past, raise awareness about the current state of affairs, and work together to improve the health and well-being of all communities of color."
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