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Sleepiness and relationships in obstructive sleep apnea.
Judith L Reishtein1, Allan I Pack, Greg Maislin
1School of Nursing, and Division of Sleep Medicine and Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6096, USA.
Issues in Mental Health Nursing
|February 18, 2006
Summary
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) significantly impacts relationships, causing interpersonal issues like marital problems and social restrictions. Addressing these relationship effects is crucial for comprehensive OSA patient care.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Medicine
- Psychology
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a prevalent condition.
- Previous research indicates OSA can affect quality of life.
- The specific impact of OSA on interpersonal relationships requires further detailed exploration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To qualitatively analyze the impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) on participants' relationships.
- To identify specific interpersonal and intrapersonal themes related to OSA's effects on social and personal life.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of comments from 156 participants in a multisite study.
- Utilized data from the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ), including a relationship impact item.
- Analysis focused on themes expressed in participant comments.
Main Results:
- Approximately one-third of participants, predominantly males (mean age 44.7) with severe OSA, provided qualitative comments.
- Key interpersonal themes included work and marital problems, and social life restrictions.
- Intrapersonal themes involved embarrassment and poor mood related to OSA.
Conclusions:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) has a significant detrimental effect on interpersonal relationships.
- Patients with OSA experience both social difficulties and internal emotional distress.
- Assessing the impact of OSA on relationships is essential for effective patient management and treatment strategies.