The Influence of Trait Anxiety on Sleep Disorders in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Mediating Roles of Self-Perceived Aging and Loneliness

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the impact of trait anxiety on sleep disorders within a community-dwelling older adult population, examining the mediating effects of self-perceived aging and loneliness. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 374 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 73.30 ± 7.56 years; 179 males, 47.9%; 195 females, 52.1%), residing in Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province, China, were recruited. A battery of assessments, including a demographic questionnaire, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the University of California at Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, the Brief Aging Perceptions Questionnaire, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, was administered to the cohort. Data analyses were performed using SPSS version 27.0 and PROCESS version 4.0 macro, enabling the computation of descriptive statistics, correlational analyses, and multiple mediation models. RESULTS: This study found a statistically significant positive correlation between trait anxiety and sleep disorders in older adults. Moreover, the mediating roles of self-perceived aging and loneliness in the relationship between trait anxiety and sleep disorders were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with trait anxiety have relatively poor sleep conditions. Negative self-perceived aging and feelings of loneliness are key mediating factors. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: To improve the sleep health of older adults in the community, intervention measures should focus on their psychological state, such as alleviating trait anxiety and reducing self-perceived aging and feelings of loneliness.