Exploring the Interplay Between Socioeconomic Status and Sleep Quality on General Cognitive Status Among Taiwanese Older Adults

Chi Chiao , National Yang-Ming University
Andrew Chen, Utrecht University

Using data from the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study, we seek to assess the interactions between socioeconomic status (SES) and sleep quality on the cognitive status of older adults in Taiwan, a non-Western society with a distinct cultural context, taking relaxation/exercise and a wide range of individual characteristics into consideration. General cognitive status was assessed by ten questions via personal interviews, including part of the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, a 10-item free-recall and immediate recall test. SES was defined by education and subjective SES. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was adopted to measure respondents’ sleep quality. Results from multilevel regression models demonstrated that SES is positively associated with cognitive status, and its relationship differs significantly by sleep quality. Education appears to especially benefit cognition of older adults who have poor sleep (ß=1.13, p<0.001). Involvement in both relaxation practice and other exercise is associated with better cognition (ß=1.22, p<0.01).

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 Presented in Session 6. Health & Mortality & Aging