The relationship between night sleep duration, sleep quality and depressive symptoms in Chinese elderly couples

Although there are many studies analysing the relationship between sleep and depression in individuals, there is currently no bi-directional causal relationship between sleep and depression between older couples analysed from a binary perspective.Thus, this study used the CHARLS database to analyse the relationship between sleep and depression among older couples. A binary cross-lagged model was used to analyse the data.The study found an interaction between nighttime sleep duration and depression among older couples. Wife's depressive symptoms were significant predictors of husband's nocturnal sleep duration. Husband's depression and sleep quality predicted wife's sleep quality and depression, respectively. Therefore, when screening community-dwelling older adults for depressive symptoms, we need to be aware of the impact of different sleep profiles of older adults of different genders on spousal depressive symptoms. In addition, when dealing with patients with depressive symptoms, we need to consider not only the patient but also the impact of their depressive symptoms on their spouse.