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Gender Differences in Sleep Deprivation and Quality Among Spousal Caregivers of Disabled Partners: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

This study examined gender differences in sleep outcomes among spousal caregivers of disabled partners in China and the relationship between the breadth of a care recipient's functional disability and a caregiver's sleep. This study used the 2020 data from the fifth wave of the China Health and Reti...

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Published in:Inquiry (00469580) Vol. 63; pp. 1 - 11
Main Authors: Mu, Tingyu, Xu, Rixiang, Zhu, Qianyin
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Sage Publications Inc. 03/07/2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: 03/07/2026
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      pub: Sage Publications Inc.
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        atl: Gender Differences in Sleep Deprivation and Quality Among Spousal Caregivers of Disabled Partners: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.
      aug:
        au:
          Mu, Tingyu
          Xu, Rixiang
          Zhu, Qianyin
        affil: School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
      sug:
        subj:
          Persons with Disabilities Psychosocial Factors
          Sexual Partners Psychosocial Factors
          Caregivers Psychosocial Factors
          Spouses Psychosocial Factors
          Sex Factors Evaluation
          Sleep Deprivation Evaluation
          Sleep Quality Evaluation
          Outcomes (Health Care) Evaluation
          Caregiver Burden Evaluation
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Middle Age
          Aged
          Cross Sectional Studies
          Prospective Studies
          Self Report
          Sleep Duration
          Data Analysis Software
          Odds Ratio
          Confidence Intervals
          Descriptive Statistics
          Chi Square Test
          Univariate Statistics
          Logistic Regression
          Scales
          Funding Source
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Aged: 65+ years
          Male
          Female
      ab: This study examined gender differences in sleep outcomes among spousal caregivers of disabled partners in China and the relationship between the breadth of a care recipient's functional disability and a caregiver's sleep. This study used the 2020 data from the fifth wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), including 13 243 participants, of whom 1600 were caregivers for disabled spouses. The degree of disability was assessed using the Basic/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (BADL/IADL) scale. Sleep quality and duration were measured by self-report. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests and binary logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders such as sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and lifestyle factors. Women spousal caregivers had shorter sleep duration (OR = 1.309, 95% CI: 1.098-1.561) and poorer sleep quality (OR = 1.200, 95% CI: 1.011-1.424) versus non-caregivers, whereas no significant differences were observed among men caregivers. Analysis of the parametric relationship revealed that when the number of types of disabilities in care recipients reached 5 to 8, caregivers' sleep duration was significantly reduced (OR = 1.238, 95% CI: 1.007-1.522); when the number reached 9 to 12, both sleep duration (OR = 1.616, 95% CI: 1.096-2.382) and sleep quality (OR = 1.774, 95% CI: 1.220-2.579) of caregivers deteriorated significantly. Caregiving for a disabled spouse impairs sleep among women. A clear graded relationship exists between care recipients' functional disability types and caregivers' sleep problems. Support policies should consider gender differences and target women undertaking high-intensity care.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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