Journal des troubles du sommeil : traitement et soins

Positive Psychological Traits, Perceived Stress and Quality of Life Associated with Sleep Quality in Community-Dwelling People

Shu Ping Chuang, Jo Yung Wei Wu , Chien Shu Wang and Li Hsiang Pan

Background: The objective of this study was to identify the sleep problems most often encountered by people according to the presence or absence of physical and mental disorder. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations among positive psychological traits, perceived stress, quality of life and sleep quality in community participants.

Methods: Three hundred and sixty-seven community participants aged 20 to 90 years old completed SHS, GQ-6, AHS, PSS, PSQI and WHOQOL-BREF. Participants with severe physical disorders, sleep disorder, and those taking psychotropic medication were excluded from the study.

Results: Stepwise regression analysis was applied in the analysis. Happiness, hope, perceived stress and quality of life were associated with sleep quality. Gratitude showed no significance. Happiness, hope, perceived stress and quality of life explained 31% of the variance for sleep quality. A majority of participants (73.5%) had PSQI ≥ 5, which is suggestive of sleep problems. The poor sleep group had lower scores on positive psychological traits (except for gratitude), higher perceived stress and lower quality of life compared to the good sleep group.

Conclusions: Our results suggested that preventive and intervention programs targeting community participants should focus on developing strategies to increase positive psychological traits and decrease perceived stress in order to improve sleep problems.