Researchers Investigating Why Many Latinos in the U.S. Don't Get Enough Sleep

March 27, 2023
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Latino man laying in bed with grey sheets and reaching for cell phone

A good night's sleep is essential for good health, but many Latinos in the U.S. just don't get enough of it. To shed light on possible reasons why, researchers are studying the sleep habits of those living near the U.S.-Mexico border.

"I honestly don't think we have a very good understanding of what the rates of (sleep problems) are in the Latino community," said John Ruiz, a psychology professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He is part of the research team studying the sleep habits of Latinos living in the Nogales, Arizona, area along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The goal of the Nogales Cardiometabolic Health and Sleep Study is to help develop "an understanding of how border contexts and social contexts impact sleep in the border region," Ruiz said. "Second, do those sleep patterns and associated cardiovascular risks vary as a function of ethnicity? Do Latinos experience those contexts different than non-Latinos, and is that helpful or harmful to their health?"

*For more on the studies and health trends being identified, visit the American Heart Association's news page on to read the full article.

Updated: 03/27/23