Sleep Disturbance, Mental Health Symptoms, and Quality of Life: A Structural Equation Model Assessing Aspects of Caregiver Burden

ABSTRACT

Objectives

The present study sought to examine the association between sleep disturbance, mental health symptoms, and quality of life among informal caregivers. The study also aimed to assess whether greater caregiver demands (i.e., hours spent providing care per week) altered the associations between these physical and mental health outcomes.

Methods

530 informal caregivers participated in an online study of sleep and health across the lifespan. Sleep disturbance was assessed via the Insomnia Severity Index and RU-SATED. Mental health was measured using the PHQ-2, GAD-2, and the PANAS. Quality of life was assessed via the Satisfaction with Life Scale.

Results

Results revealed an indirect association between sleep disturbance and quality of life via increased mental health symptoms (β = −.21, p =.001). This indirect association was moderated by caregiver demands (β =.33, p =.002), with higher caregiving demands increasing the association between sleep disturbance and quality of life.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the adverse outcomes associated with sleep disturbance among caregivers and suggest that higher caregiving demands increases the effect of sleep disturbance on quality of life.

Clinical Implications

Increased caregiving is associated with adverse physical and mental health consequences. Assessing and treating sleep disturbance among caregivers is needed and may lead to improvements in mental health and quality of life.

KEYWORDS:

• Caregiving
• sleep
• insomnia
• depression
• anxiety
• quality of life

Acknowledgments

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K23AG049955 (PI: Dzierzewski).

Clinical implications

• Sleep disturbance among informal caregivers is common and associated with adverse consequences suggesting that interventions targeting sleep disturbance in caregivers are warranted.

• Patients with greater caregiving demands would benefit from increased screening for concerns related to sleep and mental health.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interests to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health [K23AG049955].