Attachment styles and sleep measures in a community-based sample of older adults.
BACKGROUND
Measures of attachment style are often used to appraise social and emotional health. In developmental literature, the concept of attachment is used to explain relationships between children and their adult caregivers. While both attachment styles and sleep patterns are conceived as developmentally organized systems, very few studies have explored the link between the two. The present study examined whether attachment styles and sleep measures are associated among older adults.


METHODS
Relationships between attachment styles (i.e., secure, fearful, preoccupied, and dismissive) and subjective sleep measures were assessed utilizing data from 70 older participants (mean age: 68+/-6 years; Blacks: 59% and Whites: 41%) in a community-based study assessing subjective health characteristics. After obtaining informed consent, each participant provided demographic and socioeconomic data, as well as relevant medical and subjective data.


RESULTS
Independent of participants' demographic and subjective factors, significant correlations were found between the preoccupied attachment dimension and sleep measures. Specifically, individuals scoring high on the preoccupied attachment dimension were more likely to report daytime napping (r(p)=0.31, p<0.01) and to use sleep-inducing medications (r(p)=0.37, p<0.05). No significant correlations were found among sleep measures and the secure, dismissive, and fearful dimensions.


CONCLUSIONS
Important relations have been observed between specific attachment styles and subjective sleep factors in our data. Although only one-dimension (preoccupied) demonstrated statistical significance, a trend was observed, suggesting possible associations between the secure attachment style dimension and subjective sleep measures. Future studies are needed to broaden our understanding of the relationship between attachment styles and sleep patterns.
Niko Verdecias
R
R
Department of Family and Social Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 3544 Jerome Avenue, Bronx, NY 10647, USA. nverdeci@montefiore.org
Jean-Louis
Girardin
G
Zizi
Ferdinand
F
Casimir
Georges J
GJ
Browne
Ruth C
RC
D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D012890:Sleep; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People