Summary
Aotearoa New Zealand adolescents experience significant ethnic inequities in sleep health. Māori, Pacific, Asian, MELAA, and ‘Other’ ethnic groups were more likely than European peers to have short sleep, late bedtimes, and early waketimes on school days. Factors such as rurality, neighbourhood and school deprivation, housing insecurity, unsafe environments, and experiences of racism partially explained these differences but did not fully account for them. These findings highlight the role of social determinants and systemic inequities in adolescent sleep. Addressing racism and colonial legacies is essential to ensure all young people can achieve the basic human right of good sleep and well-being.
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