LAUSR

Decreasing sleep quality is a challenge for older adults over age 65. Researchers have found significant associations between romantic relationships and sleep quality. However, most existing studies are cross-sectional; few have focused on the aging population who experience the most sleep problems; few have considered mechanisms linking close relationships and sleep quality; few have considered the specific effects of social interactions on sleep quality; and few have considered bidirectional relationships. To address these gaps in the literature, this study investigated the bidirectional pathways linking daily partner interactions to sleep quality in older adult couples. This study also tested daily negative affect, positive affect, and perceived partner responsiveness as three possible mediators explaining recursive associations between daily partner interactions and sleep quality. This study recruited 238 older adult couples to complete baseline questionnaires including assessments of attachment orientation and demographics. Couple members also completed daily diaries for 7 consecutive days, reporting on their daily relationship, emotional, and sleep experiences. Results supported the predicted bidirectional relationship between daily partner interactions and sleep quality via three hypothesized pathways (i.e., negative affect, positive affect, and perceived partner responsiveness). Specifically, older adults who reported higher than average negative partner interactions during the day reported increases in negative affect, and decreases in positive affect and perceived partner responsiveness on the same day, which in turn were associated with worse sleep quality that night. The opposite was true for positive partner interactions. Bidirectionally, older adults who reported higher than average sleep quality on one night reported decreases in negative affect and increases in positive affect and perceived partner responsiveness the next day, which in turn were associated with fewer negative partner interactions and more positive partner interactions that day. Results also revealed moderating effects of attachment orientation and gender. In conclusion, this study contributes to a sparse literature assessing the bidirectional relationship between daily partner interactions and sleep quality in the aging population. This research adds to our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the recursive relationship and informs us of potential avenues for relationship-based interventions aimed at improving sleep quality.