Weight bias internalization is positively associated with insomnia symptom severity in young women with disordered eating

Abstract

Objective: Social stigma has been associated with disparities in sleep heath; however, one type of stigma that has been less evaluated is weight bias internalization. Previous studies have shown inconsistent results linking weight bias internalization and sleep problems and few have examined associations with insomnia.

Methods: Women with disordered eating (N = 173, M_age=20.22, SD=1.70, range=18-25) completed questionnaires measuring insomnia symptoms, weight bias internalization, alcohol use, and dysphoria. Linear regression tested associations between weight bias internalization and insomnia symptom severity, after adjusting for demographic variables, alcohol use, and dysphoria.

Results: Weight bias internalization, alcohol use, and dysphoria were significantly positively associated with insomnia symptom severity above-and-beyond demographic variables.

Conclusions: Although effect sizes were small, weight bias internalization was associated with greater insomnia symptom severity. Results add to the growing literature examining the associations of stigma with sleep health.

Keywords: Disparities; Insomnia; Sleep; Weight stigma.