Relationships between quality of sleep and its related factors among elderly Chinese immigrants in the Seattle area.

Abstract

The risk factors related to quality of sleep in elderly adults, such as life-style events, physical illness, psychological factors, and gender have been well identified by several studies. However, information regarding the relationship between quality of sleep and its related factors among elderly Chinese immigrants is not available in recent sleep literature. The purposes of this study were to explore the quality of sleep and discover the relationships between sleep quality and its related factors among elderly Chinese immigrants people in the Seattle area. Pearson's correlation and descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. Eighty community-dwelling Chinese elderly people, aged from 66 to 93, were recruited from the Chinese Senior Day Care Center, local Chinese churches, elderly Chinese individuals' private homes, and Chinese retirement apartments within the Seattle area. Three questionnaires were utilized to collect data, and personal interviews were used to facilitate the subjects in completing the questionnaires. The findings of this study showed that (1) 55% (n = 44) of the participants were identified as poor sleepers and 45% (n = 36) as good sleepers. (2) depression and the number of current diseases experienced by the subjects were in statistically significant correlation with quality of sleep, with r = .477, p = .00 and r = .221, p = .049 respectively. (3) daytime napping did not affect nighttime sleep in this study' population. The findings of this study can provide information regarding sleep problems among elderly Chinese immigrants to improve the elderly's quality of sleep.