Pain burden and sleep quality in community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years in Ghana: potential psychosomatic mechanisms
Issued Date
2025-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
13607863
eISSN
13646915
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105002006484
Journal Title
Aging and Mental Health
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Aging and Mental Health (2025)
Suggested Citation
Gyasi R.M., Aikins E., Appiah P., Nyaaba E., Agyei D., Konadu E., Angmorkwor V.T., Hajek A., Jacob L., Peltzer K., Smith L. Pain burden and sleep quality in community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years in Ghana: potential psychosomatic mechanisms. Aging and Mental Health (2025). doi:10.1080/13607863.2025.2483334 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/109517
Title
Pain burden and sleep quality in community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years in Ghana: potential psychosomatic mechanisms
Author's Affiliation
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu
College of Medical and Health Science
Centre de Recherche Epidémiologiques et Bio Statistiques de Sorbonne Paris Cité (CRESS)
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology
African Population and Health Research Center
Hôpital Fernand-Widal
University of the Free State
Mahidol University
Southern Cross University
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Anglia Ruskin University
College of Medical and Health Science
Centre de Recherche Epidémiologiques et Bio Statistiques de Sorbonne Paris Cité (CRESS)
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology
African Population and Health Research Center
Hôpital Fernand-Widal
University of the Free State
Mahidol University
Southern Cross University
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
Anglia Ruskin University
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Objectives: Pain has been related to adverse health outcomes in old age. However, evidence from low-income countries is limited, and the potential mediators are poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the association between pain burden (PB) and sleep problems (SP) among older adults in Ghana and explore potential psychosomatic mediators. Method: We analyzed data from the Aging, Health, and Health-seeking Behavior study administered to 1201 adults aged ≥50 years. PB was assessed using the pain subscale of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36. SP was assessed using nighttime/daytime SP in the last 30 days. Multivariable OLS and mediation models evaluated the hypotheses. Results: Mean (SD) age was 66.14 (11.85) years, and 63.3% were women. After full adjustment, PB (versus no PB) was positively associated with SP in the overall sample (b = 0.227, 95% CI = 0.124 − 0.331) and women (b = 0.363, 95% CI = 0.233 − 0.492) but not in men. Moreover, the association was pronounced in the ≥65 year group (b = 0.317) than in the 50-64 year group (b = 0.216). Self-rated health (54.4%), immobility (23.4%), physical activity (12.2%), restlessness (12.1%), depression (6.4%), anxiety (6.3%), and social isolation (7.2%) mediated the PB-SP association. Conclusion: PB was positively associated with SP among older adults in Ghana. Bio-psychosomatic factors were identified as potential mediators in this association. Addressing these factors may improve sleep health in older adults with pain.