The Association between Sleep Quality and Loneliness in Rural Elderly Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Shandong, China
Abstract Background There is evidence for negative associations between loneliness and sleep quality in older adults. However, little is known regarding the relationship between loneliness and sleep quality among Chinese rural elderly. This study examined the associations of loneliness and sleep quality in a cross-sectional study of older adults. Methods A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted among 1568 rural elderly people in Shandong, China. Loneliness was assessed using the Univesity of California at Los Angels loneliness scale. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Ordinal logistic regression were conducted to examine the association of loneliness and sleep quality after adjusting for multiple confounding variables. Results After controlling for age, marriage, education, occupation, economic income, family relationships, living arrangement, smoking, drinking, chronic diseases, quality of life such as variables in multivariable analysis, Poor sleep quality still predicted loneliness in rural elderly. Conclusion This finding implied an adverse effect of sleep quality on the loneliness of older adults. Poor sleep quality was associated with increased odds of loneliness in Chinese rural older adults. Sleep-based interventions should be developed to prevent loneliness in rural older adults in China.