The Insomnia and Loneliness of Elderly Individuals and Affecting Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey

Gezgin Yazici H., ÖKTEN Ç.

Social Work in Public Health, vol.37, no.7, pp.601-608, 2022 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 37 Issue: 7
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/19371918.2022.2053630
  • Journal Name: Social Work in Public Health
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, IBZ Online, AgeLine, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EBSCO Education Source, EMBASE, Geobase, MEDLINE, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.601-608
  • Keywords: COVID-19, elderly individuals, insomnia, loneliness, sleep
  • Kütahya Health Sciences University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study aims to examine the loneliness and sleep problems of older people and the variables during the COVID-19 in Turkey pandemic and the variables that affect them. Snowball sampling was used in this descriptive and cross-sectional study. Google forms, personal information form, the UCLA Loneliness Scale III and the Insomnia Severity Index were used to collect data in December 2020. The questionnaire link was disseminated by e-mail and social media. By clicking the link, the participants were automatically directed to information about the study and received informed consent forms. The participants were urged to send the questionnaire to as many individuals as they could. This research was conducted with 412 participants. Education level and perceived health status affected their loneliness. The older people had loneliness and sleep problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, and these problems were affected by sociodemographic variables. Loneliness and insomnia are positively correlated, and loneliness affects the severity of insomnia.