INCOME ADEQUACY, PRE-SLEEP AROUSAL, AND MULTIDIMENSIONAL SLEEP HEALTH AMONG OLDER ADULTS - Article 917 - Findings on mediation via pre-sleep arousal

Sep 28, 2026

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The study examines how income adequacy relates to older adults’ multidimensional sleep health and whether this link operates indirectly through experiences of pre-sleep arousal. Data from 179 adults aged 65–82 were analyzed from a cross-sectional online survey. Participants reporting difficulty paying for basic necessities showed worse multidimensional sleep health. Income adequacy predicted sleep health indirectly via cognitive arousal, but not via somatic arousal. Results suggest cognitively oriented sleep-health interventions may benefit older adults experiencing income inadequacy; prospective work is needed to confirm effects and refine intervention targets.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

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Study aims and background

Measures and data source

Key findings

Indirect pathways and interpretation

Implications and future research

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 917 t-test and regression-based parallel mediation analysis. The sample included 179 adults aged 65-82 years (M = 69.66, SD= 4.20) . On average, individuals who reported difficulty paying for basic necessities had worse multidimensional sleep health (M = 12.95, SD = 4.13) than those who did not endorse difficulty (M = 14.89, SD = 3.96), t(177)=3.10, p=.001 . Income adequacy was associated with multidimensional sleep health indirectly, B=-.94, 95% CI [-1.62, -.39], through cognitive arousal, B=-.87, SE=.32, 95% CI [-1 .59, - .31], but not somatic arousal, B=- .07, 95% CI [- .46,.24]. These findings suggest that, in older adults, feeling unable to pay for basic necessities is associated with more pre-sleep cognitive arousal which is, in turn, associated with worse multidimensional sleep health. Prospective research is needed to clarify this association and determine if sleep health interventions that are cognitively-oriented and consider social determinants of health are beneficial for older adults experiencing income inadequacy. Abstract citation ID: igaf122.3099 INCOME ADEQUACY, PRE-SLEEP AROUSAL, AND MULTIDIMENSIONAL SLEEP HEALTH AMONG OLDER ADULTS Caitlan Tighe, Brooke Sullivan, Grace Lynch, and Declan Miles, Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Existing literature indicates income adequacy is associated with general health perceptions among older adults; less is known about its association with sleep health. We investigated if older adults’ multidimensional sleep health differs by income adequacy and to evaluate if income adequacy relates to sleep health indirectly through experiences of pre-sleep arousal. We analyzed data from a cross-sectional online survey study of participants recruited from Prolific. Income adequacy was assessed with a self-report item wherein respondents indicated the extent of difficulty they have paying for basic necessities. The Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale assessed cognitive and somatic pre-sleep arousal. The RU-SATED v4.0 questionnaire assessed multidimensional sleep health. Aims were evaluated with an independent samples

FAQs

How was income adequacy measured in the study?

Income adequacy was assessed with a self-report item asking respondents about the extent of difficulty they have paying for basic necessities.

What aspects of pre-sleep arousal were considered?

The study measured both cognitive and somatic pre-sleep arousal using the Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale.

Does income adequacy affect sleep health directly or indirectly?

Income adequacy related to multidimensional sleep health indirectly through cognitive arousal, and the association was not observed through somatic arousal.

Sep 28, 2026

Upload by Stanley