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"I need to be alert at night to provide care": Factors associated with problematic sleep among young Australian

Jessica L Paterson1, Matthew Jw Thomas2, Amy C Reynolds3

  • 1Flinders Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Australia.

Behavioral Sleep Medicine
|June 28, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Young carers often face sleep deprivation due to caregiving duties. This study found that caring responsibilities significantly reduce sleep duration and quality in young individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Adolescent Health

Background:

  • Young people (<25 years) increasingly assume carer roles for family members with health conditions or disabilities.
  • These caregiving responsibilities often coexist with academic and social demands, leading to time constraints and sleep deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of caregiving duties on problematic sleep patterns among young carers.
  • To determine the contribution of caring responsibilities to reduced sleep duration and quality in this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • A survey of Australian young carers (aged 15-24 years) was conducted.
  • Participants reported demographics, caregiving characteristics, and sleep quality/quantity, with eligibility based on <7 hours sleep or sleep dissatisfaction.
  • The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality.

Main Results:

  • 110 young carers participated; 55.5% reported sleep dissatisfaction and 62.7% slept <7 hours nightly.
  • Sleep duration was significantly shorter for those awakened for caregiving (1-2 or ≥3 times) compared to those not awakened.
  • Worse sleep quality (PSQI scores) and factors like worrying about, being woken by, or listening for the care recipient significantly impacted sleep.

Conclusions:

  • Young carers experience diminished sleep duration and impaired sleep quality.
  • Interventions to mitigate the sleep burden of caregiving are crucial for the health and safety of young carers.
Abstract

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