Developing a tool to assess mattress satisfaction: the Boston Mattress Satisfaction Questionnaire

Area of Science:

• Sleep Science
• Health Psychology
• Consumer Research

Background:

• Mattresses are crucial sleep surfaces, yet scientific research on them is limited.
• Understanding mattress satisfaction is important for public health and consumer well-being.
• The Boston Mattress Satisfaction Questionnaire (BMSQ) was developed to address this research gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Boston Mattress Satisfaction Questionnaire (BMSQ).
• To assess mattress satisfaction (MS) and mattress characteristics (MC).
• To explore demographic factors associated with mattress satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• Designed the BMSQ with sleep scientists, clinicians, and mattress industry professionals.
• Assessed mattress comfort, firmness, temperature, and overall satisfaction using 10-point scales.
• Administered the BMSQ to a population-based sample of US adults (n=1,055) and conducted regression analyses.

Main Results:

• The BMSQ demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.95).
• Mattress satisfaction was inversely correlated with pain perception (p < 0.001).
• Higher satisfaction was reported by older adults, Hispanic/Asian individuals, higher earners, and those with foam, hybrid, or air-filled mattresses.

Conclusions:

• The BMSQ is a potentially valuable tool for evaluating mattress satisfaction.
• Findings highlight demographic and mattress characteristic associations with satisfaction.
• Further research can utilize the BMSQ to improve sleep surface quality and consumer guidance.