Sleep patterns and insomnia management in Korean-American older adult immigrants

This study aimed to describe sleep patterns and insomnia management in first generation Korean-American older adult immigrants. Specifically, this research examined differences in sleep interruption factors, use of sleep promotion aids, sleep characteristics and insomnia management between men and women who are first generation Korean-American older adult immigrants.

Older adults feel that their sleep is shallow, interrupted frequently and is insufficient. If sleep changes are severe, it is difficult for older adults to maintain an awakened state during the day.

This was a descriptive survey study.

The survey included a set of four questionnaires. All measures were self-administered. In the data analysis, descriptive statistics was used to analyse demographic characteristics. The chi-squared test and t-test were used to examine the differences between men and women.

Most subjects experienced sleep interruption (n = 43, 82.6%) and were not satisfied with their sleep (n = 42, 80.8%). A quarter of the subjects had experience with complementary/alternative therapies to manage insomnia, although 40 subjects (76.9%) wanted to use complementary/alternative therapies to manage their insomnia.

The study shows that first generation Korean-American older adult immigrant men and women report sleep interruptions and dissatisfaction with the quality of their sleep. Women were more likely in want of using complementary/alternative therapies for insomnia management than men. Women may have longed more for their traditional healthcare practices. The high degree of sleep disruption in this sample may relate to living in a different culture.

Health professionals need to assess sleep patterns and consider an array of methods including complementary/alternative therapies to manage insomnia.