Sleep Disorders in the Elderly: The Role of Coping Methods and Mindfulness

Abstract

In recent decades, the number of the elderly has been on the rise, and because of their age, they demand certain health, hygienic, mental and physical care. Research indicated aging as an influential factor leading to sleep disorders and, therefore, the present paper aimed to predict sleep disorders based on coping skills and mindfulness among the elderly in a nursing home in Kermanshah, Iran. It was a descriptive correlational study. The research sample included all the elderly people staying in the nursing homes in 2018-19. The sample size was 125 individuals who were selected based on cluster sampling. To collect data, Baer mindfulness questionnaire, Endler and Parker coping strategies questionnaire, Berlin sleep apnea questionnaire, and Zomer sleep disorders questionnaire were used. SPSS software and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings indicated that coping and mindfulness skills could predict sleep disorders among the elderly, so to improve control and concentration in the target group, it was recommended that they attend mindfulness skill workshops. It was also suggested that in elderly people suffering from sleep disorders, problem solving coping strategy must be prioritized over preventive and emotional-based coping skills.

Keywords

• mindfulness
• coping skills
• sleep disorders
• the elderly