DAILY SLEEP, SOCIAL ENCOUNTERS, AND MOMENTARY LONELINESS IN LATE LIFE
2024
Sleep, Social Encounters, and Loneliness in Older Adults
Sample size: 287
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Zhou Zexi, Fingerman Karen
Primary Institution: The University of Texas Austin
Hypothesis
The study examines the associations between sleep, quality of social encounters, and momentary loneliness in older adults’ daily life.
Conclusion
Better sleep quality is linked to more pleasant social encounters and less loneliness in older adults.
Supporting Evidence
- Older adults with better sleep quality reported more pleasant social encounters.
- Fewer sleep disturbances were linked to less stressful encounters with social partners.
- Positive social encounters with less close ties helped reduce feelings of loneliness.
Takeaway
When older people sleep better, they tend to have nicer interactions with friends and feel less lonely.
Methodology
The study used ecological momentary assessment data collected over 5 to 6 days, where older adults reported their sleep and social encounters.
Participant Demographics
Older adults with a mean age of 74.88.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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