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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #367117
Title: Beliefs of childbearing age women on sleep hygiene behaviors: A Reasoned Action Approach elicitation study

Author
item VÉZINA-IM, LYDI - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item BEAULIEU, DOMINIQUE - University Of Quebec
item Thompson, Deborah - Debbe
item NICKLAS, THERESA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item BARANOWSKI, TOM - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2019
Publication Date: 9/22/2019
Citation: Vézina-Im, L.A., Beaulieu, D., Thompson, D.J., Nicklas, T., Baranowski, T. 2019. Beliefs of childbearing age women on sleep hygiene behaviors: A Reasoned Action Approach elicitation study [abstract]. World Sleep 2019. September 20-25, 2019; Vancouver, Canada. Poster Presentation.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sleep is important for physical and mental health. A good sleep hygiene among women of childbearing age could promote the health of both the woman and her child immediately at the start of pregnancy. There is little information on the factors that influence the sleep hygiene behaviors (SHBs) of women of childbearing age. This study’s objective was to identify women of childbearing age's beliefs on SHBs based on a psychosocial theory, the Reasoned Action Approach. Thirty women of childbearing age (18-44 years) with no reported mood or sleep disorder and not taking sleep medication were randomly assigned to complete a 10-15 minute semi-structured phone interview. Participants were asked one question on sleep duration and another on overall sleep quality using items from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Other questions were on behavioral beliefs (cognitive and affective), normative beliefs (injunctive and descriptive) and control beliefs (barriers and facilitating factors) regarding one of three SHBs: avoiding media use (television, cellphone/smartphone and/or laptop/tablet) in bed; avoiding caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes within 4 hours of going to bed; and having a regular bedtime and wake up time even on weekends. Phone interviews were first transcribed using the exact wording from participants. A content analysis was performed independently by two experts to identify the most important beliefs using a 75% cumulative frequency of mention. Disagreements were discussed and resolved by consensus. The mean age of participants was 26 years (range: 18-41 years). Most slept less than the minimum recommended 7 hours/night (53.3%). The mean sleep duration was 6.7 hours/night (range 4.5-10.0 hours/night). The vast majority (76.7%) rated their sleep quality as fairly good. Participants reported that adopting the SHBs would improve sleep (e.g., fall asleep faster, sleep better), avoid side effects (e.g., headache, fatigue), help them relax before bedtime and make them feel like they were missing out on things. Adopting the SHBs was associated with positive emotions such as feeling relaxed and satisfied, but also with negative emotions such as being qualified as unpleasant and not normal. Participants mentioned their parents, partner, siblings and children would approve or disapprove if they adopted the SHBs and were the most or least likely to adopt them. Barriers were having activities in the evening (e.g., work, household chores, social activities) and social situations (e.g., eating out, birthday parties). Facilitating factors were putting their turned-off devices away from bed, having alternatives (e.g., reading a book, herbal tea, meditation) and a regular schedule. These results can guide the development of behavioral interventions to promote SHBs and sleep among women of childbearing age in order to improve their physical and mental health and promote a healthy pregnancy early on.