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Caregiving is associated with worse sleep, and worse sleep‐related health and function
Author(s) -
Sprecher Kate E,
Hagen Erika W,
Ravelo Laurel A,
Barnet Jodi H,
Peppard Paul E
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.043230
Subject(s) - bedtime , sleep (system call) , sleep debt , dementia , psychology , gerontology , medicine , clinical psychology , sleep disorder , psychiatry , insomnia , disease , pathology , computer science , operating system
Background Disturbed sleep in caregivers of persons with dementia is a leading reason for the decision to institutionalize persons with dementia. Here we quantify the association of caregiving with sleep, and sleep‐related health and function. Method In the Retirement and Sleep Trajectories study, 2137 community dwelling adults completed 4 annual mailed surveys (52% female, mean age 64 years (range 46‐86 years)). Caregiving status was determined from questions: (1) How many hours per month do you spend providing unpaid assistance to others? and (2) Indicate how often caring for others kept you up past your intended bedtime. Responses of never or rarely were compared to responses of sometimes, often or always. Participants were asked their usual bedtime, waketime, and sleep need (How many hours and minutes of sleep do you think you currently need each day to feel rested and alert?). Sleep duration was defined as the time from bedtime to waketime, averaged across weekdays and weekends. Sleep debt was defined as the difference between sleep duration and sleep need. A 9‐item version of the functional outcomes of sleep questionnaire (FOSQ) was administered, which reflects general productivity, activity level, vigilance and social outcomes. Mental and physical health were assessed with the SF‐12 Health Survey. Mixed‐effects linear models were used to test associations of caregiving with sleep, health and function, controlling for age. Result 5.45% of respondents reported that caregiving delayed their bedtime, which was significantly (p<0.001) associated with 11 (95% CI = 6‐16) minutes/day shorter sleep duration, 13 (95% CI = 7‐18) minutes/day greater sleep debt, worse functional outcomes of sleep (beta = ‐0.58, 95% CI= ‐0.87‐ ‐0.30) and worse mental health (beta = ‐1.88, 95% CI = ‐2.67 ‐ ‐1.10). Delayed bedtime due to caregiving was not associated with physical health. Hours spent caregiving was not associated with sleep duration, sleep debt, health or functional outcomes. Conclusion Caregiving is associated with disturbed sleep, which is associated with worse daytime function and worse mental health. Interventions to improve caregiver sleep could be a strategy to improve caregiver health, function and quality of life.