Pongibove, Marlaina
(2022)
Risk Factors Associated with Poor Sleep Quality Among Older Adults.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this paper is to explore possible risk factors affecting the quality of sleep among older adults in the US. Factors to be explored include cognitive function, physical function, depression, anxiety, quality of life, visual impairment, and demographics.
Background: Sleep is a complex bodily function that is essential to the overall health and well-being of humans. Previous studies show that sleep patterns in adults often change with age. These changes may lead to sleep disorders, such as insomnia. Because of the rapid increase in age in the US, researchers have begun to look closely at changes in health with age. This has resulted in an exponential increase in awareness and understanding of the causes and consequences of poor sleep among older adults. Existing research has found possible relationships between poor sleep quality and poor cognitive and physical function, high levels of depression and anxiety, and low quality of life. Poor sleep quality has also been found to be more common in individuals who are visually impaired and of female gender. Previous studies have examined these factors independently without comparing these relationships simultaneously. Additionally, this study assessed how interest in sleep interventions, such as Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (BBTI), may be related to one’s sleep quality along with these other factors.
Methods: An exploratory study was conducted among 66 adults aged 55 and older in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to analyze sleep quality and possible risk factors. In-person and telephonic surveys were performed. Using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7), Memory Impairment Screen (MIS), EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), and questions assessing for visual impairment, we compared sleep quality among older adults.
Results: Among this population, results indicate that poor sleepers were more likely to be female and have higher levels of depression, anxiety, and disability limitations compared to good sleepers.
Conclusion: These results are significant to public health because they contribute to the existing literature of how sleep may play a role in “successful” aging.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
| Creators | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Pongibove, Marlaina | mrp95@pitt.edu | mrp95 | |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID |
|---|
| Thesis advisor | Albert, Steven | smalbert@pitt.edu | smalbert | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Stahl, Sarah | sts80@pitt.edu | sts80 | UNSPECIFIED |
|
| Date: |
17 May 2022 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Submission Date: |
22 April 2022 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
57 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Behavioral and Community Health Sciences |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Sleep, Older Adults, Depression, Anxiety, Disability, Quality of Life, Visual Impairment |
| Date Deposited: |
17 May 2022 22:14 |
| Last Modified: |
17 May 2022 22:14 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/42712 |
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