Research on correlation between psychological defense mechanism and sleep quality of the empty-nesters

Abstract

Objective To explore the characteristics of community empty-nesters sleep quality and psychological defense mechanism, and the correlation between them. Methods 230 empty-nest elderly and 181 non-empty nesters were assessed with Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI) and Defense style questionnaire(DSQ). Results PSQI score of empty-nest elderly was (14.33±2.48), higher than that of non-empty nesters(t=17.857, P<0.01). Factor score of immature psychological defense style in DSQ was (3.92±1.20), for the mediate defense style was (4.49±1.11), for the wrapping factor was (3.38±1.92). All of them were higher than the scores for non-empty nesters, and the differences were statistically significant (t=4.463, 6.937, 5.404, P<0.01). Factor score for mature psychological defense style in DSQ was (3.96±1.45), and lower than the score for non-empty nesters(t=7.472, P<0.01). Immature defense mechanism of empty-nest elderly was positively related with subjective sleep quality, sleep continuity, sleep disorders, using sleep medicine, dysfunction in the daytime, and the total score in PSQI (r=0.533, 0.145, 0.605, 0.521, 0.497, 0.734). Mature defense mechanism was negative related with sleep latency, sleep continuity, and the total score in PSQI (r=-0.129, -0.542, -0.104). The mediate defense mechanism was positively related with subjective sleep quality, sleep latency and the total score in PSQI (r=0.186, 0.294, 0.131), while negative related with sleep efficiency(r=-0.188). The wrapping factor had a positive correlation with subjective sleep quality, using sleep medicine and the total score in PSQI (r=0.440, 0.431, 0.564). Conclusion Empty-nesters tend to adopt immature defense styles, and most of them have a poor sleeping, which are closely related with each other. Key words: The empty-nest elderlies; Psychological defense mechanism; Sleep quality