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Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2022 Oct 30:gbac173. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbac173

Covid-19-stress associated with worse sleep quality, particularly with increasing age

Kyoungeun Lee 1,2,, Brialisse Sayre 3, Sophia Martin 4, Taylor A James 5, Audrey Duarte 6,7
PMCID: PMC9620385  PMID: 36309904

Abstract

Objectives

Based on SST, one might predict that older adults’ well-being would be less negatively impacted by Covid-19-stress, as with other stressors, than younger people. However, whether sleep quality, which is negatively affected by aging, is similarly protected from the negative consequences of Covid-19-stress with age is unknown. Here, we examined the association between Covid-19-stress, above and beyond general-stress, and sleep quality and how it varies by age.

Method

From December 2020 to April 2021, 386 adults reported their Covid-19-stress, sleep quality, and resilience in an online study.

Results

While older age was related to lower Covid-19-stress, Covid-19-stress was associated with worse sleep quality with greater age.

Discussion

These results suggest that at least some aspects of one’s well-being may be more susceptible to the negative consequences of stress with increasing age. Our results might be better understood via SAVI model, which posits that older adults have increased susceptibility to prolonged and unavoidable stress.

Keywords: Covid-19 pandemic, Sleep, Resilience

Contributor Information

Kyoungeun Lee, School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology; School of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin.

Brialisse Sayre, School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology.

Sophia Martin, School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology.

Taylor A James, School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology.

Audrey Duarte, School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology; School of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin.

Supplementary Material

gbac173_suppl_Supplementary_Material

Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Supplementary Materials

gbac173_suppl_Supplementary_Material

Articles from The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

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