Indah Permata Sari

RESUMEN Objetivo: Explorar las percepciones y experiencias de los ancianos sobre el sueño y las estrategias que utilizan para afrontar su mala calidad. Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo cualitativo con 27 ancianos seleccionados intencionadamente de entornos comunitarios e institucionales en Bangka Belitung. Los datos se recopilaron entre junio y agosto de 2025 mediante entrevistas en profundidad y se analizaron temáticamente con triangulación, verificación por parte de los participantes y cumplimiento de las directrices COREQ. Resultados: La mayoría de los participantes eran mujeres de entre 60 y 74 años, muchas de ellas viudas y con enfermedades crónicas. Surgieron dos temas principales: las malas experiencias de sueño y las estrategias para afrontarlas. Entre los problemas más comunes se encontraban la dificultad para conciliar y mantener el sueño, los despertares nocturnos, el despertar temprano y la fatiga diurna. Los trastornos del sueño se relacionaron con el distrés psicológico y la incomodidad ambiental. Las estrategias de afrontamiento incluyeron cambios de comportamiento, prácticas espirituales, siestas diurnas y ajustes en las actividades. Conclusión: Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que el sueño entre los ancianos participantes en Bangka Belitung se percibe como multidimensional, influenciado por factores fisiológicos, psicológicos, ambientales y espirituales, lo que subraya la necesidad de un apoyo comunitario y culturalmente sensible que vaya más allá de las estrategias autoiniciadas.

Objective: To explore older adults’ perceptions and experiences of sleep and strategies used to cope with poor sleep quality. Method: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 27 purposively selected older adults from community and institutional settings in Bangka Belitung. Data were collected from June to August 2025 through in-depth interviews and analyzed thematically with triangulation, member checking, and adherence to COREQ guidelines. Results: Participants were mostly women aged 60–74 years, many widowed and with chronic conditions. Two themes emerged: poor sleep experiences and coping strategies. Common problems included difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, nighttime awakenings, early awakening, and daytime fatigue. Sleep disruption was linked to psychological distress and environmental discomfort. Coping strategies included behavioral changes, spiritual practices, daytime naps, and activity adjustment. Conclusion: The findings suggest that sleep among participating older adults in Bangka Belitung is perceived as multidimensional, shaped by physiological, psychological, environmental, and spiritual factors, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive, community-based support beyond self-initiated strategies.

Background: Sleep quality is essential for overall health and well-being, particularly in older adults who are at increased risk of sleep disturbances such as insomnia and sleep apnea. Poor sleep is associated with physical, cognitive, and emotional decline in aging populations; however, existing reviews often examine medical, social, or environmental determinants in isolation, leaving limited understanding of how these factors jointly influence sleep quality in older adults.Purpose: This systematic review aims to synthesize cross-sectional evidence on the physiological, psychological, medical, social, and environmental factors influencing sleep quality in older adults.Methods: A computer-based search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and BioMed Central (BMC) using the terms (“sleep quality” OR “sleep disturbances”) AND (“older adults” OR “elderly”) AND (“factors” OR “determinants”) AND (“cross-sectional”). Articles published between January 2020 and April 2025 were included. The review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and used the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist to appraise study quality.Results: Twenty cross-sectional studies were included. Sleep quality, as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), varied widely (6%–79%). Thematic synthesis identified five key domains: physiological decline (n = 5), psychological factors (n = 6), medical comorbidities (n = 5), social-environmental conditions (n = 3), and lifestyle factors (n = 1). Common factors associated with poor sleep included female gender, frailty, depression, anxiety, multimorbidity, and low social support. Considerable heterogeneity was noted in study populations and assessment tools.Conclusion: Associations observed in cross-sectional studies indicate that several interacting factors are related to sleep quality in older adults; however, causality cannot be inferred. Longitudinal research is needed to clarify these relationships and inform integrated care approaches.