Environmental Influences on Sleep: Noise, Lighting, & Social Support in South Asian Caregivers for Older Adults

TL;DR

South Asian caregivers not living with older adults face sleep issues due to noise, lighting, and lack of social support, suggesting a need for targeted interventions.

Contribution

This study identifies specific environmental and social factors affecting sleep quality in long-distance South Asian caregivers.

Findings

Frequent noise disturbances were significantly linked to lower sleep quality scores.

Higher social support was positively correlated with better sleep quality.

Qualitative analysis revealed that noise and lighting disrupted sleep, while community support improved it.

Abstract

Caregivers for older adults often experience disrupted sleep quality due to environmental stressors, affecting their health, well-being, and caregiving capacity. This mixed-methods study examined how noise, lighting, and social support influence self-reported sleep quality among South Asian caregivers who do not reside with care recipients. Quantitative data were collected from 78 South Asian caregivers (62% male; 38% female), aged 19–73 years (M = 26, SD = 7). Nearly half (48.7%, n = 38) reported frequent noise disturbances, significantly associated with lower sleep quality scores (r= –0.47, p < 0.01). Additionally, 47.4% (n = 37) reported high artificial light exposure before bedtime, linked to slightly lower sleep duration (M = 6.54 hours, SD = 1.59) compared to those with lower exposure (M = 6.78 hours, SD = 1.37), though not statistically significant (t= –0.71, p > 0.05). Higher social support was positively correlated with better sleep quality (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), while 33.3% (n = 26) reported social isolation. Qualitative data from five focus groups (n = 21) were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Noise was discussed by 16 participants (76%), including external (e.g., traffic, sirens) and internal (e.g., roommates, appliances) sources, contributing to sleep fragmentation. Lighting was discussed by 14 (67%), who reported screen use and limited daylight as disruptors. Community support, emphasized by 15 (71%), buffered stress and enhanced sleep, while isolation increased anxiety and sleep disruption. Findings highlight the need for culturally responsive environmental and social interventions to improve sleep quality among long-distance caregivers, whose unique challenges, such as physical separation and limited direct support, require targeted strategies to enhance caregiving sustainability and overall well-being.