Rezultati projekta prezentirani su na 37. STAR konferenciji: Stress and Anxiety in a Changing Society (06.-08.07.2016.; Zagreb, Hrvatska):

Sleep Quality, Stress and Life Satisfaction of Retirement Home Residents

Adrijana Košćec, Jasminka Despot Lučanin, Damir Lučanin, Eva Anđela Delale, Martina Knežević, Ivana Hanzec (Hrvatski studiji, Sveučilište u Zagrebu)

Abstract: Many biological and psychosocial factors tend to change in older adulthood, including biological changes in circadian and homeostatic regulation of sleep. Sleep of inadequate quality and duration is related to various adverse outcomes on health and daytime functioning. Sleep complaints and difficulties in older adults are relatively high, and residing in an institution may pose additional vulnerability risk for impaired sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between sleep quality and psychological well being in older persons living in retirement homes. The study was conducted in 7 retirement homes in Zagreb with 138 residents (78% women). They were all ambulatory, without diagnosis of dementia, on average 84.3 years old (SD=6.29). Sleep quality was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Psychological well-being was operationalized by stress and life satisfaction variables. Stress was expressed as the combined measure of frequency and intensity of stressful life events during past year. Life satisfaction was measured by the 8-item scale, constructed for the purpose of the series of studies. Our results showed that 70% of participants experienced at least one stressful event during the past year. As much as 80% of participants had severely impaired sleep quality, with their result on the PSQI being clinically relevant. Expectedly, sleep efficacy had been impaired the most, and the use of sleep medication was frequent. Correlational analyses did not reveal significant correlation of stress with sleep quality and life satisfaction. Life satisfaction was relatively high and it was positively related to sleep quality (including shorter sleep latency, less sleep disturbances and medication use, and better daytime functioning). The results of our study imply potential benefits of the sleep education programs in the retirement homes in order to improve sleep quality and life-satisfaction of older persons.

Poster prezentacija predstavljenog istraživanja nalazi se u repozitoriju.