Encountering Online Microaggressions Is Associated With Poor Sleep Quality for Black Women

According to a new study led by reseachers at North Carolina State University, witnessing online microaggressions is associated with poor sleep quality among young Black women – even when the microaggressions are not personally directed at them.

The study authors recruited a sample of 478 young adult Black women to examine their experiences with in-person and online microaggressions, as well as their sleep quality. In analyzing the participants’ feedback, the authors discovered a strong association with exposure to vicarious online microaggressions and poor sleep quality. In-person microaggressions were also connected to poor sleep quality, but not to the extent of witnessing online microaggressions towards other Black women.

Going forward, the authors believe future research is needed to investigate the connection between vicarious stressors and sleep problems, with a particular focus on stressors related to race and gender. Considering vicarious microaggressions were found to have a larger adverse impact on sleep quality than in-person encounters, the authors suggest health practitioners consider each patient’s unique online engagement when tailoring personal treatment and stress management plans.

In addition to scholars at North Carolina State University, the study included authors from Harvard Medical School, the University of Missouri, and the University of Virginia.