Sleep disturbances and their association with quality of life and depressive symptoms among elderly residents of long-term care facilities: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: Sleep disturbances are common among older adults and are associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Residents of long-term care facilities constitute a particularly vulnerable group. Aim: Background: This study aimed to assess sleep disturbances among elderly residents of long-term care facilities and evaluate their association with depressive symptoms and quality of life. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 80 residents aged ≥60 years in two long-term care facilities in Poland. Standardized tools were used: Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Barthel Index, and WHOQOL-BREF. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Sleep disturbances were common. Mean AIS score was 8.7 ± 3.9, PSQI 7.9 ± 3.5, ESS 9.6 ± 4.2, and GDS 9.8 ± 5.6. Sleep disturbances were significantly associated with depressive symptoms (AIS: r = 0.46, p < 0.001; PSQI: r = 0.42, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with quality of life, particularly in the physical (r = −0.41, p < 0.001) and psychological domains (r = −0.38, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent among institutionalized older adults and are strongly associated with depressive symptoms and reduced quality of life. These findings support the need for routine sleep assessment as part of a comprehensive geriatric evaluation in long-term care settings.