PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SLEEP HEALTH ACROSS ADULTHOOD

Abstract Sleep is associated with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, as well as daily social interactions and productivity. Studies often have focused on sleep duration only, lacking the ability to comprehensively understand the importance of age-related changes in varied facets of sleep health. Moreover, psychological and social factors that may be associated with sleep health in adulthood are still poorly understood. This symposium showcases contemporary endeavors towards understanding how diverse indicators of sleep health relate to psychological and social factors across adulthood. Paper 1 uses perceived job discrimination as a social stressor to test associations between perceived job discrimination and sleep health (difficulty falling/staying asleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep duration) among working women. Paper 2 examines the relationship between personality traits and self-reported and actigraphy-measured sleep health (sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep latency, insomnia symptoms, wake-after-sleep-onset). Paper 3 uses daily diary data to examine the link between pain and sleep health (sleep disturbances, napping) in older adults’ everyday lives and test moderating effect of social support. Paper 4 examines sleep health (sleep latency, feeling unrested) as a mechanism linking physical activity and cognitive function. These papers use different project datasets that include diverse populations of middle-aged and older adults, such as the Sister Study, Midlife in the United States Study, and Daily Experiences and Well-being Study. At the end of these presentations, Dr. Buxton will discuss their theoretical and methodological contributions, and consider challenges and opportunities for future research.

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PERSONALITY AND SELF-REPORTED AND ACTIGRAPHY-MEASURED SLEEP HEALTH IN ADULTHOOD

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2864 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S779-S779

Author(s):

Nasreen A Sadeq ◽

Soomi Lee ◽

Alyssa Gamaldo ◽

David M Almeida

Keyword(s):

Personality Traits ◽

Sleep Duration ◽

Sleep Latency ◽

Sleep Onset ◽

The United States ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Big Five Personality ◽

Sleep Health ◽

Linear Regressions ◽

Insomnia Symptoms

Abstract Personality may be associated with sleep health, however, the majority of existing studies rely on self-reported measures of sleep (often focusing on sleep duration). The purpose of this study is to examine the associations between Big Five personality traits and self-reported and actigraphy measured sleep. This study included 3928 participants and a subsample of 441 participants from the Midlife in the United States study. Linear regressions were used to analyze the relationships between personality traits and sleep. Neuroticism was associated with more frequent actigraphy-measured waking after sleep onset, and several self-reported measures of sleep quality, including shorter sleep duration, longer sleep latency, and a greater number of insomnia symptoms. Agreeableness was associated with shorter actigraphy-measured sleep duration and more self-reported insomnia symptoms. Our findings support an association between Neuroticism and poor sleep, and suggest that Agreeableness may be associated with worse sleep health.

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SENIOR FRIENDLY PACKAGING AND PRODUCT TESTING: FEEDBACK FROM OLDER CONSUMERS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2380 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S639-S640

Author(s):

Lisa A Hollis-Sawyer ◽

Alison O’Neil

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Well Being ◽

Evaluation Study ◽

The United States ◽

Consumer Products ◽

Color Contrast ◽

Product Testing ◽

Package Design ◽

Age Related ◽

Wide Range

Abstract By 2050, older adults ages 65 or older will account for 83.7 million people in the U.S. population (An Aging Nation: The Older Population in the United States, 2014). It is imperative that products and technologies are designed to accommodate age-related changes that older adults are likely to experience. Given this population surge of older adults, there is a growing interest in identifying consumer products that are usable for older adults or “senior friendly.” Senior-friendly product testing (e.g., Senior Select®) focuses on the usability of various health and consumer products targeted to people with diminishment of any of the following: hearing, vision, taste, touch, smell, mobility & dexterity and /or mental acuity. A usability evaluation study was conducted in three senior living communities located in the Atlanta area. Twenty-nine participants ranged in age from 66 years old to 102 years old. Participants were shown a snack bar product and then asked to use the product themselves to perform a series of prepared tasks. After interacting with the product, participants were asked to share any comments that they had concerning the product. Issues of color contrast between the main packaging and the pull tab, easy of gripping and tearing the wrapper, the labeling of the nutrition information, and the package labeling (should refer to “adult” snack) were reported. Many respondents suggested that senior-friendly package design relates to their health and well-being. Implications toward a wide range of products for older adults of varying ability levels will be discussed.

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Catalyst to Connection: When Technical Difficulties Lead to Social Support for Older Adults

American Behavioral Scientist ◽

10.1177/0002764218773829 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (9) ◽

pp. 1167-1185 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jessica Francis ◽

Travis Kadylak ◽

Taj. W. Makki ◽

R. V. Rikard ◽

Shelia R. Cotten

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Ties ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Daily Lives ◽

Ict Use ◽

Age Related ◽

The Impact

Information and communication technology (ICT) use can mitigate the negative impact of various age-related threats, such as isolation and loneliness, by facilitating connection with social ties and access to social support. Although research regarding various uses and benefits of ICTs among older adults has increased, there is limited research regarding the impact of technical difficulties on older adults’ well-being. Our study explores technical difficulties encountered, how older adults cope with ICT failure, and the various forms of social support that may result as a consequence of accessing technical support. We use data from nine semistructured focus groups conducted with older adults in the Midwest region of the United States. Results show that older adults may adapt new strategies for coping with the technical difficulties that arise from regular ICT use. Furthermore, as older adults incorporate ICTs into their daily lives and seek assistance from social ties and experts, they may also be indirectly combating the threat of isolation and loneliness.

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Bidirectional Associations Between Activity Diversity and Sleep

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2248 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 652-652

Author(s):

Soomi Lee ◽

Susan Charles ◽

David Almeida

Keyword(s):

Sleep Duration ◽

Well Being ◽

Total Activity ◽

The United States ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Short Sleep Duration ◽

Sleep Health ◽

Activity Data ◽

Bidirectional Relationship ◽

Bidirectional Associations

Abstract Activity diversity is important for psychological well-being and cognitive functioning. Yet, little is known about the relationship between activity diversity and sleep. This study examined how overall and nightly sleep health are associated with activity diversity. Participants (N=1841) from the Midlife in the United States Study II provided activity data for 8 days. We constructed overall and daily activity diversity scores. A composite score of overall sleep health across 8 dimensions and nightly sleep duration were measured. Analyses adjusted for sociodemographics, total activity time, and positive/negative affect. Participants with poorer sleep health overall had a lower activity diversity. On days following nights with short (<6hrs) or long (>8hrs) sleep duration, participants engaged in fewer-than-usual activities. Conversely, fewer daily activities also predicted long (but not short) sleep duration. Our results suggest cyclical associations between poor sleep health and activity diversity day-to-day, which, may accumulate over time to form a bidirectional relationship.

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672 COVID-19 Anxiety and Sleep in Middle-aged and Older Adults: Impact of Age and Sex

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab072.670 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. A262-A263

Author(s):

Sadhika Jagannathan ◽

Mikayla Rodgers ◽

Christina S McCrae ◽

Mary Beth Miller ◽

Ashley Curtis

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Sleep Duration ◽

The United States ◽

Sleep Efficiency ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Age Related ◽

Aging Populations ◽

Middle Aged Adults ◽

Age And Sex

Abstract Introduction COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory illness that was declared a pandemic in March 2020. During the course of COVID-19, studies have demonstrated worsening sleep quality and anxiety. No studies have examined age-related and sex-specific associations between COVID-19 anxiety and sleep in aging populations. We examined associations between COVID-19 anxiety and sleep, and evaluated age and sex as moderators, in middle-aged/older adults. Methods Two hundred and seventy-seven middle-aged/older adults aged 50+ (Mage=64.68, SD=7.83; 44% women) living in the United States who were cognitively healthy (no cognitive impairment/dementia/neurological disorders) completed an online Qualtrics survey in July/August 2020 measuring sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; PSQI) and COVID-19 anxiety (Coronavirus Anxiety Scale; CAS). Multiple regressions examined whether CAS was independently associated with or interacted with age or sex in its associations with PSQI total score/subscores (sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction), controlling for age, education, number of medical conditions, sleep/pain medication use, and COVID-19 status. Results CAS interacted with age (B=-.008, SE=.003 p=.02, R-squared=.02), not sex (p=.31), in its association with sleep duration. Higher CAS was associated with shorter sleep duration in oldest-older adults (~73 years old; B=.12, SE=.05, p=.01) and younger-older adults (~65 years old; B=.07, SE=.03, p=.02), not middle-aged adults (~57 years old, p=.47). CAS interacted with age (B=.01, SE=.004, p=.02), not sex (p=.56), in its association with sleep efficiency. Higher CAS was associated with worse sleep efficiency in oldest-older adults (B=.14, SE=.05, p=.009) and younger-older adults (B=.08, SE=.04, p=.03), not middle-aged adults (p=.60). Higher CAS was associated with greater daytime dysfunction (B=.26, SE=.07, p<.001) and higher PSQI total score (B=.82, SE=.33, p=.01), and did not interact with age or sex (ps>.05). Conclusion Increased COVID-19 anxiety is associated with several aspects of worse sleep (shorter sleep duration, sleep efficiency) in older adults but not middle-aged adults. Generally, in middle-aged/older adults, higher COVID-19 anxiety is associated with worse daytime dysfunction and overall sleep quality. Sex does not moderate these associations. Increased COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in aging populations may translate to increased anxiety and subsequent sleep disruptions. Interventions aimed at mitigating negative pandemic-related psychological and sleep outcomes may be particularly relevant for older adults. Support (if any):

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The Ups and Downs of Daily Life During COVID-19: Age Differences in Affect, Stress, and Positive Events

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbaa096 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Patrick Klaiber ◽

Jin H Wen ◽

Anita DeLongis ◽

Nancy L Sin

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Age Differences ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Daily Stressors ◽

Positive Events ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Affective Reactivity ◽

Age Related

Abstract Objectives Past research has linked older age with greater emotional well-being and decreased reactivity to stressors, but it is unknown whether age-related advantages in emotional well-being are maintained in the wake of COVID-19. We examined age differences in exposure and affective reactivity to daily stressors and positive events in the first several weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods In March and April 2020, 776 adults from Canada and the United States aged 18–91 (mean age 45) years reported COVID-19 threats at baseline, then completed nightly surveys for 1 week about their daily stressors, positive events, and affect. Results Younger age predicted more concerns about the threat of COVID-19 across multiple domains, in addition to lower positive affect, higher negative affect, and less frequent positive events. Younger adults had more non-COVID-19 daily stressors and higher perceived control over stressors, but lower perceived coping efficacy than older adults. There were no age differences in the frequency of COVID-19 daily stressors nor perceived stressor severity. Younger adults had greater reductions in negative affect on days when more positive events occurred and greater increases in negative affect on days when non-COVID-19 stressors occurred. Age moderation was attenuated for negative affective reactivity to COVID-19 stressors. Age did not moderate positive affective reactivity to daily events. Discussion In the early weeks of the pandemic, older adults showed better emotional well-being and less reactivity to stressors but did not differ from younger adults in their exposure to COVID-19 stressors. Additionally, younger adults benefited more from positive events.

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223 Sleep Duration and Sleep Quality in Chronic Cannabis Users and Non-Users

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab072.222 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. A89-A89

Author(s):

Caroline Tse ◽

Alicia Stewart ◽

Omar Ordaz-Johnson ◽

Maya Herzig ◽

Jacqueline Gagnon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Sleep Duration ◽

Sleep Latency ◽

Sleep Onset ◽

The United States ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Sleep Diary ◽

Random Factor ◽

Time In Bed

Abstract Introduction Cannabis use is on the rise in the United States, with 10% of adults reporting cannabis use in the past 30 days. Users commonly report consuming cannabis to improve sleep despite the lack of research that supports an association between cannabis use and sleep. In this pilot study we sought to examine objective measures of sleep duration and sleep quality among non- and chronic-cannabis users, and any patterns in relation to the time since consumption of cannabis. Methods Chronic cannabis users (cannabis used 2 or more times/week) and non-users provided up to 2-weeks of actigraphy (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT), worn on the wrist and verified by sleep diary. Chronic cannabis users also reported the date, time, amount, and route of their cannabis use. Mixed-effects models with participant as a random factor were used to examine: 1) the relationship between daily sleep parameters in cannabis non-users vs. users; and 2) the elapsed time between cannabis use and time in bed in chronic cannabis users. Results Chronic cannabis users (n=6) and non-users (n=7) collectively provided 151 nights of sleep. Participant characteristics (38.5% female; age, 25.8 years ± 4 years; BMI, 23.4 kg/m2 ± 3.4 kg/m2) did not significantly differ between groups. Cannabis use was associated with decreased total sleep time (measured in hours, ß=-0.58, p<0.001) and increased wake after sleep onset (WASO, ß=32.79, p=0.005), but not with the number of awakenings (ß=6.02, p=0.068). Among chronic cannabis users, cannabis use within two hours of bed was associated with increased sleep latency compared to use greater than two hours (ß=6.66, p=0.026). There was no association between time of cannabis use and WASO (p=0.621) or the number of awakenings (p=0.617). Conclusion In this pilot study of objectively measured sleep, we found that chronic cannabis use compared to non-use is associated with decreased sleep duration of otherwise healthy adults. Cannabis used closer to bedtime is associated with increased sleep latency. Additional studies that are able to assess the mode and dosage of use are needed to further understand the effects of cannabis and its components on sleep. Support (if any) KL2TR002370, AASM, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences

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0857 Factors Associated With Sleep Health Among Middle-aged And Older Adults

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.853 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. A326-A327

Author(s):

R A Lorenz ◽

S L Auerbach ◽

C Li ◽

Y Chang

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Well Being ◽

Lifestyle Behaviors ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Sleep Health ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Self Rated Health ◽

Age Related ◽

The University ◽

Improve Health

Abstract Introduction The concept of Sleep Health (SH) was developed to provide a multidimensional framework consisting of characteristics of sleep that have been closely associated with physical and mental well-being. Identification of key factors associated with SH can identify targets for intervention for its improvement. This study aimed to identify factors related to SH among middle-aged and older adults. Methods A valid Sleep Health Composite Measure was recently developed from the data of the 2014 Core Survey of the Health and Retirement Survey and was used to assess overall SH in middle-aged and older adults. Spearman’s correlations, T-test, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to explore the association of SH with age, gender, self-rated health, chronic disease burden, disability, pain, and modifiable lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, smoking, alcohol, sleep medication). Results Our sample included 6,095 adults with mean age of 68 years (SD=10.1; range 50-99 years). The majority were female (59.7%) and white (77%). Correlations showed significant moderate associations between SH and self-rated health (r=.404), sleep medications (r=.390), pain (r=-.315). There were significant but small associations between vigorous activity (r=-.193), alcohol (r=.112), currently smoking (r=-.089) and SH. SH was significantly worse among women compared to men (t(6093)=6.996, p<0.001). Furthermore, SH scores were significantly different between middle-aged versus older adults (p<0.001); varying levels of self-rated health (p<0.001), number of chronic diseases (p<0.001), and degree of physical disability (p<0.001). Conclusion These findings provide evidence of factors related to SH among middle-aged and older adults, providing targets for intervention to improve health in this population. Age-related differences in relation to SH indicate intervention tailored for middle-aged adults may improve health outcomes as they age. Future studies are warranted to extend these findings using multivariable statistical approaches. Support This study was supported by the University at Buffalo Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) funded by the National Institutes of Health (Lorenz PI).

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Multidimensional Sleep Health and Physical Functioning in Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1382 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 428-428

Author(s):

Caitlan Tighe ◽

Ryan Brindle ◽

Sarah Stahl ◽

Meredith Wallace ◽

Adam Bramoweth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Grip Strength ◽

Physical Functioning ◽

Gait Speed ◽

The United States ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Sleep Health ◽

Lower Extremity Strength ◽

Sleep Parameters

Abstract Prior studies link specific sleep parameters to physical functioning in older adults. Recent work suggests the utility of examining sleep health from a multidimensional perspective, enabling consideration of an individual’s experience across multiple different sleep parameters (e.g., quality, duration, timing). We examined the associations of multidimensional sleep health with objective, performance-based measures of physical functioning in older adults. We conducted a secondary analysis of 158 adults (Mage=71.8 years; 51.9% female) who participated in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) 2 and MIDUS Refresher studies. We used data from daily diaries, wrist actigraphy, and self-report measures to derive a composite multidimensional sleep health score ranging from 0-6, with higher scores indicating better sleep health. Physical function was assessed using gait speed during a 50-foot timed walk, lower extremity strength as measured by a chair stand test, and grip strength assessed with dynamometers. We used hierarchical regression to examine the associations between sleep health and gait speed, lower extremity strength, and grip strength. Age, sex, race, education, depression symptoms, medical comorbidity, and body mass index were covariates in each model. In adjusted analyses, better multidimensional sleep health was significantly associated with faster gait speed (B=.03, p=.01). Multidimensional sleep health was not significantly associated with lower limb strength (B=-.12, p=.89) or grip strength (B=.45, p=.40). Gait speed is a key indicator of functional capacity as well as morbidity and mortality in older adults. Multidimensional sleep health may be a therapeutic target for improving physical functioning and health in older adults.

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