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ViewAttendees 6

Symposia

Mental Health Disparities

Understanding and Addressing Structural Stressors Impacting Youth Mental Health through Novel, Affirming Interventions

5 - (SYM 3) Project Sleep: A Single Session Sleep Intervention Created with Youth and for Youth to Address Structural Sleep Barriers

Friday, November 21, 2025
11:13 AM - 11:30 AM CST
Location: Strand 1, Level 2
Keywords: Mental Health Disparities, Treatment Development, Adolescents
Recommended Readings: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011-2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.,   Lipson, S. K., Zhou, S., Abelson, S., Heinze, J., Jirsa, M., Morigney, J., Patterson, A., Singh, M., & Eisenberg, D. (2022). Trends in college student mental health and help-seeking by race/ethnicity: Findings from the national healthy minds study, 2013-2021. Journal of Affective Disorders, 306, 138–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.03.038,   Ramos, G., & Chavira, D. A. (2022). Use of Technology to Provide Mental Health Care for Racial and Ethnic Minorities: Evidence, Promise, and Challenges. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 29(1), 15–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2019.10.004,   Ringle, V. A. M., Sung, J. Y., Roulston, C. A., & Schleider, J. L. (2024). Mixed-methods examination of adolescent-reported barriers to accessing mental health services. Journal of Adolescent Health, 74(2), 268–276.,   Zimmerman, A., Garman, E., Avendano-Pabon, M., Araya, R., Evans-Lacko, S., McDaid, D., Park, A.-L., Hessel, P., Diaz, Y., Matijasevich, A., Ziebold, C., Bauer, A., Paula, C. S., & Lund, C. (2021). The impact of cash transfers on mental health in children and young people in low-income and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Global Health, 6(4), e004661. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004661
Abstract Body



Background: Sleep problems are linked to negative mental health outcomes, both of which rise in prevalence during adolescence and young adulthood. Existing sleep treatments (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) are effective but remain largely inaccessible for this age group. Young people also have lower agency over structural sleep barriers (e.g., home environment, school start times).



Method: Project Sleep is a digital single-session intervention (SSI) designed in tandem with young people to meet their unique sleep needs. Participants included individuals aged 13-25 with self-reported sleep problems (N=761, Mage=18.7; 33% US/67% UK; 48% white, 81% girls, 38% LGBTQ+). Socioeconomic status (SES) ranged from 1-10 (M=6.4, SD=1.7). Structural sleep barriers were reported by 45%: nighttime workers at home (6%), shared rooms (14%), unstable living conditions (2%), uncomfortable temperature (20%), excess light (10%), and noise (17%). Participants rated sleep importance, importance of making a change to sleep, readiness for change, and perceived control pre- and post-SSI. Moderation models assessed whether structural factors influenced outcomes.



Results: All participants showed significant increases in all sleep change metrics (ps< .05). In most cases, there were no moderation effects—those experiencing structural barriers mostly improved similarly to peers (ps >.05). However, lower SES (p=.004) and high-noise environments (p=.04) were linked to smaller gains in perceived control. Those with nighttime workers in the home improved less in sleep change importance (p=.008), and those in unstable living conditions improved less in sleep importance (p=.02). Conversely, lower SES participants improved more in sleep importance (p=.04), and those in shared rooms improved more in perceived control (p=.02).



Conclusions: This brief, accessible SSI effectively supports youth with structural sleep barriers. However, in some cases, those with structural sleep barriers improved less, identifying a need for further adaptation. Future research will work with young people experiencing structural sleep barriers to better address their needs.