Subjective Sleep Experience, Burden, Depression, and Health of Stroke Caregivers

Rittman MR, Sberna Hinojosa M, Findley K. Subjective Sleep Experience, Burden, Depression, and Health of Stroke Caregivers. The Journal of Neuroscience Nursing. 2009 Feb 1; 41(1):39-52.

Related HSR&D Project(s)

• NRI 05-246 – Informal Caregivers of Veterans Post Stroke

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Abstract:

The purposes of this article are to explore and describe subjective sleep experiences of informal caregivers of stroke survivors and to explore the relationships between subjective sleep experiences, caregiver burden, depression, and health to provide a broader portrait of the role that sleep plays in the stroke caregiving experience. A total of 276 caregivers and veterans participated in the study. Results indicate a greater risk of depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale) among caregivers who sleep less, have difficulty achieving daytime enthusiasm, use sleep medications, and have poor sleep quality. Caregivers who sleep less have difficulty achieving daytime enthusiasm and are at greater risk of poor health. Greater caregiver burden was associated with less sleep and use of sleep medications. This descriptive analysis demonstrates the important relationship between sleep, depression, health, and burden and can lead to interventions to diagnose and treat sleep difficulties in caregivers.