Psychosocial Predictors of Sleep Quality in Residents of Nursing Homes

Abstract

Abstract. This article examines the cross-sectional and long-term prediction of sleep quality (SQ) of 167 older nursing-home residents (80% females, 69–100 years), who participated in the study in 2008 and 2016. SQ was assessed in 2016 by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); Total PSQI was found to be greater than 5 in 71% of participants. The domains of Subjective SQ and Daytime Functioning were relatively good, while Sleep Efficiency was most impaired. The observed set of predictors significantly explained 7–13% of PSQI variance cross-sectionally and 12–18% in the long-term effects analyses. The structure of predictors differed across SQ domains, in both the cross-sectional and the long-term effects analyses, and between the two, indicating the important impact of changes in psychophysiological functioning for current SQ of older adults.

Sleep Quality and Daytime Functioning in Older European Adults

“…As much as 60.3% of participants experienced poor sleep quality, along with depressive symptoms, a similar finding confirmed by other studies with nursing home participants in Portugal, Turkey and Sweden (Martins da Silva et al, 2019; Eser, Khorshid, & Cinar, 2007; Espirito Santo et al, 2012; Fadıloğlu, İlkbay, & Yıldırım, 2006; Holmquist, Svensson, & Hoglund, 2005). In residents of Croatian nursing homes, poor sleep quality was found in 71% of participants, with sleep efficiency being impaired the most, while depressive symptoms and self-perceived health were the significant long-term predictors of sleep quality, confirming the distinct contribution of psychological factors in the long-term prediction of sleep quality (Košćec Bjelajac et al, 2019). All these findings demonstrate that depression is an important mental health problem in the elder nursing homes’ population and that institutionalization may also contribute to the increased risk of sleep disorders in this population.…”

“…Even though around 50% of older adults report poor sleep quality (Li et al, 2018; Neikrug & Ancoli-Israel, 2010), Vitiello (2006) emphasizes that the other half of older adults can see the changes in their sleep as a normal part of the aging process, and not consider it problematic. However, when the population of older adults living in various forms of assisted living facilities and long-term care facilities is examined, the prevalence of those reporting impaired sleep quality is higher and may even exceed 70% (Despot Lučanin, Lučanin, Košćec Bjelajac, Delale, & Štambuk, in press; Košćec Bjelajac, Despot Lučanin, Lučanin, & Delale, 2019; Martin, Fiorentino, Jouldjian, Josephson, & Alessi, 2010; Valenza et al, 2013). The need for increased level of care and assistance in daily living is usually connected to older age, more deterioration of health and functional ability, and more medications, often meaning polypharmacy (Miner & Kryger, 2018).…”