Effects of Caregiver Sleep Disturbances on Relationship Quality With Their Care Recipient

ObjectivesSleep problems are highly prevalent and disruptive for caregivers. Although the connection between caregivers’ sleep and outcomes like caregiver burden and quality of life is well established, the potential influence of caregivers’ sleep on their reported relationship quality with the care recipient is not known. The current study sought to address this gap.MethodsWe analyzed data from the 2017 National Health and Aging Trends Study and linked it with data from the 2017 National Study of Caregiving. Our dependent variable was caregiver-reported relationship quality, and our predictor variable of interest was caregiver sleep problems. We also included several covariates related to the caregiver and care recipient. We used a generalized linear model to examine the relationship between caregiver sleep problems and relationship quality, controlling for other potentially influential factors.ResultsSleep problems were significantly related to relationship quality. Compared to caregivers who reported no sleep problems, those who reported at least one sleep problem (β: −0.23, 95% CI: −0.46 to −0.01) had lower relationship quality with the care recipient. Other factors that remained related to relationship quality in the generalized linear model were negative aspects of caregiving, emotional difficulties, caregiver race, relationship type, care recipient depressive symptoms, and care recipient sex.DiscussionSleep problems are influential health behaviors that are related to relationship quality for caregivers. Therefore, it is critical that sleep is more systematically assessed and addressed in caregiving populations.