How sleep affects health for Black gay men

Examining the Mechanisms and Consequences of Poor Sleep Health Among Black Gay Men

['FUNDING_R01'] · RAND CORPORATION · NIH-11387460

This project follows Black gay men for a year to find out whether poor sleep links life stress to worse HIV, mental, and physical health.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorRAND CORPORATION (nih funded)
Locations1 site (SANTA MONICA, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11387460 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If you join, you'll complete surveys at three times over a year (baseline, 6 months, and 12 months), keep a short daily diary, and wear a small sleep monitor called an actigraph for objective sleep tracking. The team plans to enroll about 300 Black gay men and will do deeper one-on-one interviews with 60 participants at the start and after one year to hear more about daily stress and coping. Researchers will combine survey answers, daily diaries, interview stories, and objective sleep data to see how stress and sleep relate to mental, physical, and HIV-related outcomes over time. The approach is community-based and mixed-methods to capture both numbers and personal experiences.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Men who identify as Black or African American and gay (or same-gender-loving), willing to complete surveys, wear a sleep monitor, and participate in follow-up visits over 12 months are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People who do not identify as Black gay men, cannot commit to the one-year follow-up or wearing a sleep monitor, or who need immediate medical treatment should not expect direct benefits from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to improve sleep and reduce stress-related mental and physical health problems in Black gay men, including those living with HIV.

How similar studies have performed: Previous cross-sectional research suggests sleep problems are common in Black gay men, but long-term, objective sleep tracking with mixed methods in this population is new.

Where this research is happening

SANTA MONICA, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.