How Changes in Living Arrangements Are Associated With Changes in Sleep Quality and Duration Among Chinese Older Adults: Results From a Longitudinal Study (2008–2018)

Purpose This study examined how transitions in living arrangements are associated with changes in sleep quality and sleep duration among Chinese older adults. Major findings Using four waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey data (2008–2018), we examined how living arrangement transitions affect sleep among 10,473 observations from older adults (65+). Cox models showed that older adults who remained living with household members (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.53–0.81; p < .001) or transitioned to living alone (HR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.57–0.89; p = .003) had significantly lower risks of experiencing a decline in sleep quality compared to those who transitioned to institutional care. Although similar patterns were observed for sleep duration, these associations were not statistically significant. Conclusions Older adults transitioning to institutional care may warrant additional monitoring and supportive care regarding sleep health during residential transitions.