The Insomnia and Loneliness of Elderly Individuals and Affecting Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey

ABSTRACT

This study aims to examine the loneliness and sleep problems of older people and the variables during the COVID-19 in Turkey pandemic and the variables that affect them. Snowball sampling was used in this descriptive and cross-sectional study. Google forms, personal information form, the UCLA Loneliness Scale III and the Insomnia Severity Index were used to collect data in December 2020. The questionnaire link was disseminated by e-mail and social media. By clicking the link, the participants were automatically directed to information about the study and received informed consent forms. The participants were urged to send the questionnaire to as many individuals as they could. This research was conducted with 412 participants. Education level and perceived health status affected their loneliness. The older people had loneliness and sleep problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, and these problems were affected by sociodemographic variables. Loneliness and insomnia are positively correlated, and loneliness affects the severity of insomnia.

Implications for practice

• Older individuals who have low education levels, who describe themselves as introverted and as having poor health status, and who meet individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 are at more risk of loneliness and insomnia.

• Geriatric nursing practices should be planned to increase the consciousness of controlled social life in order for older people to be included in social life.

• Loneliness can cause sleep problems, and older people who feel lonely experience more insomnia.

• Determining which of the psychological and social needs of older individuals have not been met during the pandemic and detecting problems early are important to protecting public health.

• Global measures should be taken. It is important to develop social solutions and policies for the older people population’s pandemic-related problems such as loneliness and insomnia.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• sleep
• insomnia
• loneliness
• elderly individuals

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.