A psychological pathway from insomnia to depression among older adults

• Published in: International psychogeriatrics Vol. 25; no. 8; pp. 1375 - 1383
• Main Authors: Sadler, Paul, McLaren, Suzanne, Jenkins, Megan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.08.2013
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Australia; Biological and medical sciences; Depression; Depression - psychology; Disorders of higher nervous function. Focal brain diseases. Central vestibular syndrome and deafness. Brain stem syndromes; Female; Geriatrics; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Insomnia; Male; Medical sciences; Mental depression; Models, Psychological; Mood disorders; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Older people; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Severity of Illness Index; Sleep; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - psychology; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Australia; older adults; hopelessness; depression; dysfunctional beliefs about sleep; insomnia; Human; Mood disorder; Belief; Nervous system diseases; Hope hopelessness; Sleep disorder; Depression; Sleep; Insomnia; Sleep wake cycle; Neurological disorder; Elderly
• ISSN: 1041-6102; 1741-203X
• DOI: 10.1017/S1041610213000616

Background: Higher levels of insomnia predict greater depression severity among older adults; however, the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship are unclear. This study tested a path model that explored whether dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and hopelessness mediated the relationship from insomnia to depression. It was hypothesized that insomnia would predict depression, both directly and indirectly, via dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and hopelessness. Methods: A community sample of 218 independent-living Australian older adults aged from 65 to 96 years completed a self-report questionnaire package. From the initial 218 participants, 171 completed a measure of depression three months later. Results: Path analysis demonstrated that maladaptive sleep beliefs and hopelessness partly explained how insomnia influenced depression, irrespective of the presence of obstructive sleep apnea and/or restless legs syndrome. Conclusions: An older adult's beliefs about sleep and sense of hopelessness were important psychological factors that helped explain how insomnia related to depression.