Factors Affecting Sleep Quality of the Elderly
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The best form of relaxation for promoting a high quality of life is high quality sleep. During sleep, the body undergoes rejuvenation and repair. Studies indicate that the elderly tend to experience continuous increases in sleep-related issues, with up to 40-50% experiencing insomnia. These problems can be attributed to various factors, including hormonal changes, insufficient income, and the use of sleeping pills. This research focused on Tha Mai District in Chanthaburi Province, where no prior studies on sleep quality have been conducted. At 9.7%, this district has the highest proportion of elderly residents compared to other districts in the province. The objectives of this study were to investigate both sleep quality and the factors that influence it within the elderly population of this district.
Methodology: This study followed a quantitative research design and included multi-stage probability sampling. The sample included 375 elderly individuals who participated in structured interviews through questionnaires between June and September 2020. The content validity of the questionnaires was evaluated using the Index of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) with all items having an IOC value of 0.5 or higher, indicating congruence between the questions and study objectives. The reliability of the questionnaires was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha with a value higher than 0.8, indicating high reliability. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, percentages, and inferential statistics, including multiple regression analysis.
Main Results: The study found 61.1% of the elderly population studied to have good sleep quality while 39.9% reported sleep quality was poor. The stepwise multiple regression analysis identified several significant factors influencing the sleep quality of the elderly in Tha Mai District. These factors included the use of sleeping pills, alcohol consumption, income, psychological and emotional aspects (stress), along with family history of psychiatric illness. This study indicated that the R-square of sleep quality of the elderly in the district is 23.6%, with statistical significance at 0.05 level.
Discussions: The following factors were found to influence the sleep quality of the elderly with depression. First, if sufficient rest is obtained, it can help improve depression. Other factors, including the use of sleeping pills, psychological and emotional aspects (stress), and income, influence the sleep quality of the elderly. On the other hand, the least influential factors on the sleep quality of the elderly are alcohol consumption and family history of psychiatric illnesses.
Conclusions: The elderly stage of life is characterized by both role and social changes due to retirement and is accompanied by physical decline as well. Therefore, this phase requires adaptation and may involve significant challenges. One of the issues that researchers are interested in studying is quality of sleep and the factors that influence it among the elderly. This study can explain factors influencing and affecting sleep quality. In addition, this study aims to prevent problems and promote better sleep quality for the elderly in this or similar contexts in the future.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Buysse, D. J., Reynolds, C. F., Monk, T. H., Berman, S. R., & Kupfer, D. J. (1989). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: A New Instrument for Psychiatric Practice and Research. Psychiatry Research. 28(2): 199-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(89)90047-4
Chanamanee, P., Taboonpong, N., & Inthanon, T. (2006). Sleep Quality and Related Factors among University students in Southern Thailand. (In Thai). Songklanagarind Medical Journal. 24(3): 163-173.
Chimluang, J. (2009). Descriptors of In Somnaia among Persons with Heart Failure. Ph.D. Dissertation, Chulalongkorn University.
Chinvararak, C., Tangwongchai, S., & Dumrongpiwat, N. (2018). Sleep Quality and Its Associated Factors in the Elderly at Pracha Niwet Village. [Online]. Available: http://www.psychiatry.or.th/JOURNAL/63-2/09_Chotiman.pdf
Chirapongse, J. (2015). Selected Factors Related to Insomnia among Elderly Patients with Major Depressive Disorder. (In Thai). M.S. thesis, Chulalongkorn University.
Choombuathong, A., Chalopaham, W., Dhongyooyen, P., Chokchaiworrarat, S., Thamwattana, K., Changsap, B., & Suksawang, P. (2015). Sleep Quality and Factors Related to Sleep and Self-esteem in the Elderly. (In Thai). Journal of Health Science. 24(5): 833-843.
Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health. (2007). Suanprung Stress Test (SPST-20). (In Thai). [On-line]. Available: http://envocc.ddc.moph.go.th./contents/view/697
Department of Mental Health. (2019). 8 Factors Responsible for Insomnia. (In Thai). [On-line]. Available: https://dmh.go.th/news-dmh/view.asp?id=29860
Department of Mental Health. (2019). Stress Assessment (ST5). (In Thai). [On-line]. Available: https://www.dmh.go.th/test/qtest5/
Department of Older Persons. (2019). Policy of the Department of Older Persons. [On-line]. Available: https://www.dop.go.th/main/law_list.php?id=33
Doloh, M. (2017). The Relationships between Sleep Quality and Occurrences of Hypertension Among the Night Shift Para Rubber Farmers. (In Thai). M.S. thesis, Prince of Songkla University.
Guimaraes, L. C., Carvalho, L. B., Yanaguibashi, G., & Prado, G.F. (2008). Physically Active Elderly Women Sleep More And Better Than Sedentary Women. Sleep Medicine. 9(5): 488-493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2007.06.009
Insook, J. (2007). Factors Affecting Role of Caregiver Regarding Sleep Promotion among the Elderly in Chon Buri Province. (In Thai). M.S. thesis, Burapha University.
Intamuen, N. (2012). The Effect of The Therapeutic Art on Depression of The Elderly in Thampakorn Chiangmai. (In Thai). M.S. thesis, Chulalongkorn University.
Jirapramuk, T. & Tanchaiswad, W. (1997). Sleep Disturbances Among Nurses of Songklanagarind Hospital. (In Thai). Journal of the Psychiatric Association of Thailand. 42(3): 123-132.
Karnchanakomate, J. (2013). Factors Predicting Quality of Sleep in Patients with Heart Failure. (In Thai). M.S. thesis, Mahidol University.
Kanjanawasee, S. (2001). Choosing the Correct Statistics for Research. (In Thai). Bangkok: Boonsiriprint.
Kantabanlang, Y. (2018). The Relationship between Stress and Sleep Quality among the Elderly. (In Thai). Journal of Health Research and Innovation. 1(2): 15-30.
Laempet, W. (2001). Sleep and Factors Inerfering with Sleep among Hospitalized Elders in Medical Units. (In Thai). M.S. thesis, Prince of Songkla University.
Ministry of Public Health. (2019). Ministry of Public Health Inspection Report Form 2019. [On-line]. Available: http://bie.moph.go.th/e-insreport/file_report/2019-02-12-09-06-13-11.doc
Morin, C. M. (1993). Insomnia: Psychological Assessment and Management. New York: Guiford Press.
National Statistical Office. (2021). Demography Population and Housing Statistics. [On-line]. Available: http://statbbi.nso.go.th/staticreport/page/sector/en/01.aspx
Narongsak, T. (2017). Quality of Sleep and its Associated Factors in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder at Outpatients Department of Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry. (In Thai). M.S. thesis, Chulalongkorn University.
Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric Theory. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Othaganont, P. (2011). Life of the Aging, Research and Lessons Learned from the Experience. (In Thai). Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University.
Panjapornpon, K., Kittivoravitkul, P., Chirakalwasan, N., Veeravigrom, M., & Banhiran, W. (2017). Basic Sleep Medicine. (In Thai). Bangkok: Beyond Enterprise Company Limited.
Peerapatphokin, P. (2006). Sleep Problems among the elderly in Bangkok. M.S. thesis, Mahidol University.
Prasertrungruang, M., & Ayuwat, D. (2016). Creating Valuable Self-Reliance Alternatives for the New Elder. (In Thai). Journal of Population. 4(2): 23-45.
Sivertsen, B., Krokstad, S., Overland, S., & Mykletun, A. (2009). The Epidemiology of Insonmia: Associations With Physical And Mental Health. The HUNT-2 Study. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 67(2): 109-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2009.05.001
Social Development and Human Security Law. (2003). Elderly Person Act, B. E. 2003. Bangkok: JS Printing.
Suansri, W. & Dangdomyouth, P. (2018). Selected Factors Related to Insomnia of Schizophrenic Patients. (In Thai). Kuakarun Journal of Nursing. 25(2): 152-167.
Suwanrak, K. (2021). Insomnia, Cause and Hazards Affecting Health. [Online]. Available: https://www.nksleepcenter.com/blog/insomnia-causes/
Thaniwattananon, P. (2016). Care Towards Best Nursing Practice in Geriatric Syndromes. (In Thai). Bangkok: Suburb Printing.
Thumcharoen, W. (2020). A Comparison of Sleep Quality of the Elderly in Thamai District, Chanthaburi Province. [Online]. Available: http://www.org.rbru.ac.th/~researchs/Proceeding/2563(no.14)_proceedings_full.pdf
Troxel, W. M., Robles, T. F., Hall, M., & Buysse., D. J. (2007). Marital Quality and The Marital Bed: Examining the Covariation Between Relationship Quality and Sleep. Sleep Medicine Reviews. 11(15): 389-404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2007.05.002
Vanichbuncha, K & Vanichbuncha, T. (2016). Using SPSS for Windows to analyze data (ST5). (In Thai). Bangkok: Samlada Printing House.
Van Schrojenstein Lantman, M., Roth, T., Roehrs, T., &Verster, J.C. (2017). Alcohol Hangover, Sleep Quality, and Daytime Sleepiness. Sleep and Vigilance. 1(12): 37-41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41782-017-0008-7
Wongpakaran, N., Wongpakaran, T., Ngamthipwatthana, T., Siriai, Y., Chaiyalangkhan, K., Niwatananun, W.,
Wongpakaran, R., Thaipisuttikul, P., & Wiriyacosol, P. (2016). Antidepressant Formula. (In Thai). [Online]. Available: https://pubhtml5.com/zahj/qsnf/basic
Wongsaichue, T., (2016). Descriptive Statistics. [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o21Mnq8paIg
Wu, C.Y., Su, T.P., Fang, C.L., & Chang, M.Y. (2012). Sleep Quality Among Community-Dwelling Elderly People and Its Demographic, Mental, And Physical Correlates. J Chin Med Assoc. 75(2): 75-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcma.2011.12.011