Centre for Policy on Ageing



Improvement and deterioration in sleep status of "younger" and "older" seniors — a longitudinal study
Author(s)	Eva Libman, Catherine S Fichten, Nettie Weinstein
Journal title	Journal of Mental Health and Aging, vol 4, no 1, Spring 1998
Pages	pp 183-192
Keywords	Sleep behaviour ; Sleep disorders ; Longitudinal surveys ; United States of America.
Annotation	149 over 55s living in the community were classified into three groups: good, medium or poor sleepers at pre-test and again at 2-year follow-up. The sample were also divided into "young old" (age range 58-69) and "old-old" (age range 70-90). Change in sleep status was evaluated over time and compared with pre-test personality, lifestyle and sleep characteristics. Findings indicate that in each age group and at both times, percentages in each sleep group were similar: 40% good, 40% poor, and 20% medium quality sleepers. 66% were unchanged in two years. For those whose sleep quality had changed, about half had improved, and about half had deteriorated. Improvement was related to better daytime psychological adjustment as well as to lower levels of negative, anxious thoughts during the pre-sleep period. No evidence for age-related increases in sleep complaints was found. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-981110214 A
Classmark	CG: CTS: 3J: 7T
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.