Factors Influencing Quality of Sleep of Elderly Persons based on Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms: The 2018 Nationwide Community Health Survey in Korea

Abstract

To identify factors influencing the quality of sleep and chewing discomfort of community-dwelling elderly individuals in South Korea based on the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms (TOUS). This is a secondary data analysis using data collected from the 2018 Korea Community Health Survey. A total of 60,350 individuals aged 65-107 years (40.3% men) participated. Self-reported questionnaires regarding health status, stress, depression, chewing discomfort and quality of sleep were used. The data were performed using SPSS/WIN 24.0 program to perform independent t-test, x2-test, one-way ANOVA, and regression analysis. The regression model had an adjusted R² of 28%, indicating that the gender, health status, depression, stress, educational level, marital status, and symptom of chewing difficulty were significant predictors of the quality of sleep for the elderly. As for the quality of sleep for elderly people, the experience of chewing difficulty was found to be an influencing factor. Sleep and the oral health of elderly people are closely related with each other. Therefore, to improve the quality of sleep, oral health needs to be managed as well.