The role of sleep in the relationship between racial discrimination and suicide ideation among black girls: A path analysis

Dec 21, 2025Journal of affective disorders

How Sleep Links Racial Discrimination to Suicide Thoughts in Black Girls

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Abstract

Nearly half (49.2%) of Black adolescent girls reported experiencing racial discrimination.

Racial discrimination was significantly associated with insufficient sleep, with an odds ratio of 1.13.
Insufficient sleep (<8 hours on school nights) was reported by 79.4% of participants.
Over one-quarter (27.7%) of participants seriously considered attempting suicide.
Racial discrimination was also significantly linked to suicidal ideation, with an odds ratio of 1.06.
Insufficient sleep had an independent association with suicidal ideation, with an odds ratio of 1.09.
The indirect effect of racial discrimination on suicidal ideation through insufficient sleep was small and not statistically significant.

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OBJECTIVE: Black adolescent girls face rising suicide rates yet remain underrepresented in mental health research. This study examined the relationship between racial discrimination, insufficient sleep, and suicidal ideation, and explored whether sleep mediates or moderates the effect of discrimination on suicidal thoughts.

METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) and included Black female high school students (N = 1287 weighted). Path analysis assessed associations between self-reported racial discrimination, insufficient sleep (<8 h on school nights), and suicidal ideation, adjusting for age. Mediation and moderation models were tested to evaluate sleep's role in this relationship.

RESULTS: Nearly half (49.2 %) of participants reported experiencing racial discrimination, and most (79.4 %) reported insufficient sleep. Over one-quarter (27.7 %) had seriously considered attempting suicide, and 15.6 % met criteria for suicidal ideation. Racial discrimination was significantly associated with both insufficient sleep (OR = 1.13, 95 % CI: 1.05-1.21) and suicidal ideation (OR = 1.06, 95 % CI: 1.01-1.11). Insufficient sleep was also independently associated with suicidal ideation (OR = 1.09, 95 % CI: 1.02-1.18). The indirect effect of racial discrimination on suicidal ideation through insufficient sleep was small and nonsignificant (OR = 1.01, 95 % CI: 1.00-1.02, p = 0.11), and no significant interaction was observed between racial discrimination and sleep duration.

CONCLUSIONS: Racial discrimination and insufficient sleep independently increased the likelihood of suicidal ideation among Black adolescent girls. These findings highlight the need for culturally responsive interventions that address racism, promote sleep health, and target systemic stressors contributing to suicide risk.

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