Sleep quality as a mediator between family function and life satisfaction among Chinese older adults in nursing home

Abstract

Background The life satisfaction of the elderly in nursing home is the focus of social concern.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of family function and sleep quality on life satisfaction among elderly individuals in nursing homes and examine the mediating effect of sleep quality between family function and life satisfaction. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted .A total of 127 older adults who completed the Life Satisfaction Index A (LSI-A), the Family APGAR Index and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were recruited from four nursing homes in Chongqing, China. Results Life satisfaction was positively correlated with family function (r=0.434, p<0.01) and negatively correlated with PSQI (r = -0.514, p<0.01). PSQI was found to be negatively associated with family function (r=-0.387, p<0.01).Family function had a significant effect on PSQI (path a: β=-0.8459, 95% CI=-1.2029, -0.4889), and PSQI had a significant effect on life satisfaction (path b: β=-0.3916, 95% CI=-0.5407, -0.2425). The total effect (path c) and direct effect (path c') of family function on life satisfaction were significant (β=0.8931, 95% CI=0.5626, 1.2235 and β=0.56181, 95% CI=0.2358, 0.8879, respectively). The coefficient for the indirect effect of family function on life satisfaction through PSQI was statistically significant (β=0.3312, 95% CI=0.1628, 0.5588). PSQI played a partial mediating role between family function and life satisfaction, and PSQI mediated 32.58% of the total effect of family function on life satisfaction. Conclusions Family function and sleep quality were significant predictors of elderly people's life satisfaction in nursing homes. Sleep quality partially mediated the relationship between family function and life satisfaction.The interventions focused on promoting family function and improving sleep quality may be more helpful in improving elderly people's life satisfaction in nursing homes.