Full record(s)

Record no:

1 of 1

Author:

WALKER Ruth B.; et al.;

Title:

A gendered lifecourse examination of sleep difficulties among older women.

Reference:

Ageing and Society, 32(2), February 2012, pp.219-238.

ISSN paper:

0144-686X

ISSN online:

1469-1779

Abstract:

This article takes a gendered lifecourse approach to explore the high prevalence of sleep difficulties in older women, and to understand the sociological underpinnings of why sleep disorders disproportionately affect older women. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 community-dwelling women aged 80 years and over who currently experienced sleep difficulties. The participants were encouraged to share their personal experience of factors which have impacted on their sleep and were asked to describe how they responded to their sleep disturbance. Five themes emerged from the analysis: significant life stages; contingent lives; daily concerns in relation to ageing; attitudes and responses of women and general practitioners; and stigma and sleeping pills. For all women, sleep difficulties were not related to physical aspects such as pain or discomfort, but were largely shaped by demands associated with family relationships at different times in the lifecourse. The findings suggest that responses by women themselves, and health professionals, reflect a sense of stigma around sleep difficulties and use of sleeping pills. The article concludes that more emphasis on the social contextual explanations underpinning sleep difficulties might lead to better prevention and treatment of such problems, and increase quality of life.

Journal home:

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Format:

article;

Topics:

ageing; gender; sociology; very old people; women;

Content Type:

research;

Country/Region:

Australia;

Record ID:

www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk/profile.asp?guid=07692af0-3f64-4137-988a-d90007f8224f