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NCT07566481

Social Determinants of Sleep Health Among Bhutanese Refugees Living in Central Ohio

Sponsor: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

View on ClinicalTrials.gov

Summary

Background: Poor sleep is common among refugee groups worldwide. It can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and premature death. It can also worsen mental health disorders. Researchers have studied the mental health issues among refugees from Bhutan in the United States. Now they want to understand more about how difficulty sleeping may relate to their other health outcomes. Objective: To learn how the social and environmental conditions Bhutanese refugees affect their sleep health and health outcomes. Eligibility: Refugees aged 18 years and older of Bhutanese-Nepali or Bhutanese American descent. The participants must live in central Ohio. Also needed are people aged 18 years and older who interact with Bhutanese refugees in this region. Design: Participants will participate in a focus group discussion. The group will have 8 to 10 participants. It will last 60 to 90 minutes. They will talk about their experiences as a refugee and their sleep health. Topics may include adjusting to a new culture; access to housing and health care; and experiences with differential treatment by members inside and outside of their group. The study team will audio record the discussion. They will not share the recording with anyone. Participants will complete a short questionnaire. They will answer questions about their age, sex, language preferences, and how long they have lived in the United States. Participants who are not refugees will take part in a virtual interview led by a member of the study team. Participants will share their experiences with adapting to a new culture, differential treatment, and other factors have affected refugees sleep. The interview will take about 1 hour.

Official title: A Qualitative Study Investigating the Intersection of Sleep, Discrimination, Acculturation, & Coping Strategies Experienced by Bhutanese Refugees Living in Central Ohio

Key Details

Gender

All

Age Range

18 Years - 120 Years

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Start Date

2026-05-11

Completion Date

2026-12-31

Last Updated

2026-05-06

Healthy Volunteers

Conditions

Sleep

* INCLUSION CRITERIA: In order to be eligible to participate in a FGD for this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Adult (aged 18 years or older) living in Ohio, US 2. Self-identify as Bhutanese-Nepali or Bhutanese American 3. Identify as a refugee 4. Speak and understand English and/or Nepali. 5. Ability to understand and the willingness to provide informed consent and participate in the FGD In order to be eligible to participate in a KII for this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Adult (aged 18 years or older) 2. Ability to speak and understand English; Familiarity with the lives and experiences of Bhutanese refugees living in Ohio, US 3. Ability to understand and the willingness to provide informed consent and participate in the virtual KII. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Individuals who are unable to communicate in either English or Nepali will be excluded from FGD. Since Nepali is the primary language spoken by most Bhutanese refugees before relocation, and English is the dominant language in the United States, participants are expected to have sufficient proficiency in at least one of these languages. Individuals who are unable to communicate in English will be excluded from KII. Given their leadership roles and interactions with the healthcare system, educational institutions, local government service providers, and nonprofit organizations in Ohio-where English is the primary language-participants are expected to have sufficient English proficiency. We will not exclude any participants that meet the inclusion criteria from participating in the study overall or in any of the study procedures. Children (individuals under 18) are excluded from this study because the knowledge sought is not relevant to this population. This study investigates the relationship between sleep quality and experiences of discrimination among Bhutanese-Nepali refugees in Ohio, as well as the coping mechanisms adults use to manage discrimination-related stress, particularly as it pertains to sleep. The constructs under investigation, including perceived discrimination, its psychosocial impact, and adaptive coping strategies, are anchored in the adult experience of resettlement and the stressors associated with adult social and occupational life. Children's experiences of discrimination, sleep patterns, and coping mechanisms differ substantially from those of adults in both nature and context, and findings from an adult sample would not be generalizable to a pediatric population. For these reasons, the inclusion of children would not yield scientifically meaningful data relevant to the study aims.

Locations (1)

Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio

Columbus, Ohio, United States