Napping and Nighttime Sleep: Findings From an Occupation-Based Intervention.
OBJECTIVE
To describe sleeping behaviors and trends over time among an ethnically diverse group of community-living older adults.


METHODS
A descriptive secondary data analysis of a subsample (n = 217) from the Lifestyle Redesign randomized controlled trial was done to explore baseline napping and sleeping patterns as well as 6-mo changes in these outcomes.


RESULTS
At baseline, the average time sleeping was 8.2 hr daily (standard deviation = 1.7). Among all participants, 29% reported daytime napping at baseline, of which 36% no longer napped at follow-up. Among participants who stopped napping, those who received an occupation-based intervention (n = 98) replaced napping time with nighttime sleep, and those not receiving an intervention (n = 119) experienced a net loss of total sleep (p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Among participants who stopped napping, the occupation-based intervention may be related to enhanced sleep. More research examining the role of occupation-based interventions in improving sleep is warranted.
Natalie E. Leland, PhD, OTR/L, BCG, FAOTA, is Assistant Professor, USC Mrs. T. H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, and Assistant Professor, Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles; nleland@usc.edu.
Natalie E
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Leland
Donald Fogelberg, PhD, OTR/L, is Assistant Professor, Division of Occupational Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.
Donald
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Fogelberg
Alix Sleight, OTD, OTR/L, is Graduate Student, USC Mrs. T. H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Alix
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Sleight
Trudy Mallinson, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Research and Leadership, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC.
Trudy
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Mallinson
Cheryl Vigen, PhD, is Research Assistant Professor, USC Mrs. T. H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Cheryl
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Vigen
Jeanine Blanchard, PhD, OTR/L, is Project Manager, USC Mrs. T. H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Jeanine
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Blanchard
Mike Carlson, PhD, is Research Professor, USC Mrs. T. H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Mike
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Carlson
Florence Clark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Associate Dean and Chair, USC Mrs. T. H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Florence
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Clark
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation