0284 Personality Traits, Insomnia Symptoms and Daytime Sleepiness in Older Adults

Abstract

Introduction: Both personality traits and disturbed sleep are associated with morbidity and mortality in older adults, but few studies have examined associations between personality and sleep disturbance in this population. We examined the cross-sectional association of personality traits with reports of insomnia symptoms and daytime sleepiness in a cohort of well-functioning older adults. Methods: Participants included 1,072 adults aged 60-97 years from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Personality was assessed by the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R), insomnia symptoms by the Women's Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale (WHIIRS), and daytime sleepiness by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Each personality trait t-score (based on combined-gender norms)was included as the primary predictor in separate regression models; with either the WHIIRS or ESS score as the outcome. Model 1 was adjusted for age, sex, race, and education, and Model 2 added depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale) to Model 1 covariates. Results: Higher scores on neuroticism were associated with more severe insomnia (Model 2: β = 0.05, 95% CI 0.02, 0.09) and greater sleepiness (Model 2: β = 0.11, 95% CI 0.07, 0.14), while Scoring higher on conscientiousness was associated with less severe insomnia (Model 2: β =-0.07, 95% CI-0.10,-0.04) and less sleepiness (Model 2: β =-0.08, CI:-0.11,-0.04). Higher scores on extraversion were associated with less severe insomnia (Model 2: β =-0.06, CI:-0.08,-0.03), but only with sleepiness in Model 1 (β =-0.04, 95% CI-0.07,-0.002). Higher scores on openness were associated with less sleepiness (Model 2: β =-0.04, 95% CI-0.07,-0.002, and scoring higher on agreeableness was only associated with less severe insomnia in Model 2 (β =-0.03, CI:-0.06,-0.001). Conclusion: In well-functioning older adults, specific personality traits are associated with reports of insomnia and daytime sleepiness, mostly independent of depressive symptoms. Our results suggest that sleep disturbances may be one mechanism through which personality influences health. Studies with objective sleep measures are needed.