title: A psychological pathway from insomnia to depression among older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Higher levels of insomnia predict greater depression severity among older adults; however, the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship are unclear. This study tested a path model that explored whether dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and hopelessness mediated the relationship from insomnia to depression. It was hypothesized that insomnia would predict depression, both directly and indirectly, via dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and hopelessness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community sample of 218 independent-living Australian older adults aged from 65 to 96 years completed a self-report questionnaire package. From the initial 218 participants, 171 completed a measure of depression three months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Path analysis demonstrated that maladaptive sleep beliefs and hopelessness partly explained how insomnia influenced depression, irrespective of the presence of obstructive sleep apnea and/or restless legs syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An older adult's beliefs about sleep and sense of hopelessness were important psychological factors that helped explain how insomnia related to depression.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Ballarat, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. paulsads@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sadler
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McLaren
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012890:Sleep; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires