A biobehavioral framework for examining altered sleep-wake patterns in homeless women.
The interactions among psychosocial and environmental stressors and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-ovarian-immune axes may provide a framework for examining altered sleep-wake patterns in women. Based on this biobehavioral framework, homeless women represent a subgroup of the female population who have many lifestyle factors that might make them vulnerable to sleep disturbances. This article presents a study designed to investigate the self-reported sleep patterns and lifestyle factors associated with the sleep of 50 homeless women, 18-44 years of age, residing in the downtown area of Los Angeles. Results indicated that almost half of the women slept six or less hours a day and had a day/night sleep pattern. A majority of the women reported restless sleep. Drinking beer, using cocaine, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and concerns about safety and money were factors significantly related to altered sleep patterns.
Davis
J E
JE
University of Florida, College of Nursing, Gainesville, USA.
Shuler
P A
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D015141:Los Angeles; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012890:Sleep; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014851:Wakefulness