Greater Night-to-Night Variability in Sleep Discrepancy Among Older Adults with a Sleep Complaint Compared to Noncomplaining Older Adults

Abstract

Research in younger adults suggests sleep discrepancy (objective/subjective measurement difference) is a consistent pattern that primarily occurs within individuals with insomnia. To examine whether older adults exhibit a similar pattern, this study compared night-to-night inconsistency in sleep discrepancy between older adults with and without sleep complaints. Older adults (N = 103; mean age = 72.81, SD = 7.12) wore an Actiwatch-L® (24 hr per day) and concurrently completed sleep diaries for 14 days. Sleep discrepancy = diary (sleep onset latency [SOL] or wake [time] after sleep onset [WASO]) − actigraphy (SOL or WASO). Both groups exhibited sleep discrepancy, but complainers exhibited significantly more night-to-night variability. Sleep discrepancy was a variable behavior that was not limited to insomnia, but instead manifested by degree throughout our older sample. Greater attention to variability in sleep research and clinical practice is warranted.

Notes

^a n = 29.

^b n = 74.

*p < .05 (indicates significant differences in respective variable between sleep complaining and noncomplaining older adults).

**p < .01 (indicates significant differences in respective variable between sleep complaining and noncomplaining older adults).

***p < .001 (indicates significant differences in respective variable between sleep complaining and noncomplaining older adults).

^a n = 29.

^b n = 74.

*p < .001 (indicates NVI was significantly higher in sleep complaining compared to noncomplaining older adults).