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Updated: Mar 19, 2026
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Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
Published on: August 8, 2019
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Napping and Nighttime Sleep: Findings From an Occupation-Based Intervention
Natalie E Leland1, Donald Fogelberg2, Alix Sleight3
1Natalie E. Leland, PhD, OTR/L, BCG, FAOTA, is Assistant Professor, USC Mrs. T. H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, and Assistant Professor, Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles; nleland@usc.edu.
Summary
Older adults who stopped daytime napping and received an occupation-based intervention increased nighttime sleep. Those without the intervention experienced a net loss of total sleep, highlighting sleep behavior changes.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sleep Science
- Occupational Therapy
Background:
- Sleep patterns and behaviors significantly impact the health and well-being of older adults.
- Understanding longitudinal changes in sleep is crucial for developing effective interventions in community-living populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe sleeping behaviors and trends over time in an ethnically diverse group of community-dwelling older adults.
- To explore the impact of an occupation-based intervention on sleep patterns and napping behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive secondary data analysis was conducted on a subsample (n=217) from the Lifestyle Redesign randomized controlled trial.
- Baseline and 6-month follow-up data on napping and total sleep time were analyzed.
Main Results:
- At baseline, average daily sleep was 8.2 hours; 29% of participants napped during the day.
- Of those who stopped napping by follow-up, participants receiving an occupation-based intervention replaced napping with nighttime sleep.
- Participants not receiving the intervention experienced a net loss of total sleep (p < .05).
Conclusions:
- An occupation-based intervention may be associated with improved sleep quality among older adults who cease daytime napping.
- Further research is warranted to investigate the role of occupation-based interventions in enhancing sleep among older populations.
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