RELATIONSHIP OF DAILY TIME SPENT \rOUTDOORS WITH SLEEP QUALITY AND \rEMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AMONG \rCOMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS \rDURING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

Abstract

Introduction: Given the recent constraints imposed due to the ongoing \rCOVID-19 pandemic and the importance of the daily light-dark cycle for \rentraining the human circadian system it is possible to state that the elderly \rare likely to be at serious risk of experiencing sleep-related problems. Whilst \rreduced or limited time outdoors and thus exposure to diurnal bright light \rappear to be detrimental to sleep and emotional well-being in old age further \rresearch is required to confirm this relationship. \rMaterials and Method: To build on earlier work a two-week study was \rconducted in a sample of 79 community-dwelling older adults recruited by \rusing snowball sampling method. Throughout the study the participants were \rallowed to be outdoors from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. on weekdays. Whilst the \rparticipants were performing their daily habitual activities they were asked \rto keep an activity diary and report on their sleep quality and emotional wellbeing using two questionnaires.\rResults: The results demonstrated that participants’ daily time spent \routdoors (49.13 minutes on average) positively correlated with their perceived \rsleep quality and emotional well-being at various –– but significant –– levels \r(p<0.05). Moreover significant negative correlations were identified between \rparticipants’ sleep quality and experienced emotional disturbances (p<0.001).\rConclusion: Based on the research findings it is reasonable to conclude \rthat spending momentary periods outdoors may have adverse consequences \rfor the elderly. To maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle and alleviate related \remotional problems in old age increasing outdoor time and diurnal bright \rlight exposure should be encouraged..