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Sleep complaints in older adults: a racial comparison.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Blazer, DG; Hays, JC; Foley, DJ
Published in: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci
September 1995

BACKGROUND: Sleep complaints have been reported in epidemiologic studies to be more frequent in late life, among females, among the physically impaired, and among persons experiencing psychiatric disorders. To date, however, no studies have reported a racial difference in sleep complaints among older persons in the United States. METHOD: The Duke EPESE (Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly) assessed 3,976 community-dwelling elders age 65+ for sleep complaints and relevant control variables. RESULTS: In bivariate analyses, sleep complaints were associated with female gender, White race, older age, cognitive impairment, lower education, presence of chronic health conditions, poor self-rated health, and higher scores on a self-rated depression scale (the CES-D). In logistic regression analysis, the association of White race and more sleep complaints persisted (p < .001) when the above variables were simultaneously controlled. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer reported sleep complaints in community-dwelling Black elders compared to White elders remains unexplained, though it may be secondary to a higher threshold for Black elders reporting complaints.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci

DOI

ISSN

1079-5006

Publication Date

September 1995

Volume

50

Issue

5

Start / End Page

M280 / M284

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sleep Wake Disorders
  • Regression Analysis
  • Racial Groups
  • Male
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • Gerontology
  • Female
  • Aging
 

Citation

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Blazer, D. G., Hays, J. C., & Foley, D. J. (1995). Sleep complaints in older adults: a racial comparison. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 50(5), M280–M284. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/50a.5.m280
Blazer, D. G., J. C. Hays, and D. J. Foley. “Sleep complaints in older adults: a racial comparison.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 50, no. 5 (September 1995): M280–84. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/50a.5.m280.
Blazer DG, Hays JC, Foley DJ. Sleep complaints in older adults: a racial comparison. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1995 Sep;50(5):M280–4.
Blazer, D. G., et al. “Sleep complaints in older adults: a racial comparison.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, vol. 50, no. 5, Sept. 1995, pp. M280–84. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/gerona/50a.5.m280.
Blazer DG, Hays JC, Foley DJ. Sleep complaints in older adults: a racial comparison. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1995 Sep;50(5):M280–M284.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci

DOI

ISSN

1079-5006

Publication Date

September 1995

Volume

50

Issue

5

Start / End Page

M280 / M284

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sleep Wake Disorders
  • Regression Analysis
  • Racial Groups
  • Male
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • Gerontology
  • Female
  • Aging