Sleep among participating older adults in Bangka Belitung is perceived as multidimensional, shaped by physiological, psychological, environmental, and spiritual factors, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive, community-based support beyond self-initiated strategies.
Key Findings
Results
Older adults in Bangka Belitung commonly experienced difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, nighttime awakenings, early awakening, and daytime fatigue.
These problems constituted the first major theme: 'poor sleep experiences'
Participants were mostly women aged 60-74 years, many of whom were widowed and had chronic conditions
27 purposively selected older adults from both community and institutional settings participated
Data were collected through in-depth interviews from June to August 2025
Results
Sleep disruption among older adults was linked to psychological distress and environmental discomfort.
Psychological distress was identified as a contributing factor to sleep disruption
Environmental discomfort was also identified as a contributing factor
These factors emerged through thematic analysis of in-depth interview data
Findings fell under the first major theme of 'poor sleep experiences'
Results
Older adults employed a range of coping strategies to manage poor sleep quality, including behavioral changes, spiritual practices, daytime naps, and activity adjustment.
These strategies constituted the second major theme: 'coping strategies'
Spiritual practices were notably identified as a culturally relevant coping mechanism
Strategies were self-initiated rather than professionally guided
The study highlights the need for community-based support beyond these self-initiated strategies
Results
Sleep among participating older adults was perceived as multidimensional, shaped by physiological, psychological, environmental, and spiritual factors.
Two overarching themes emerged from thematic analysis: poor sleep experiences and coping strategies
The multidimensional nature of sleep was identified across both community and institutional settings
Analysis adhered to COREQ guidelines with triangulation and member checking employed to enhance rigor
The qualitative descriptive design involved 27 purposively selected participants
Discussion
The study identified a need for culturally sensitive, community-based support for older adults experiencing poor sleep in Bangka Belitung.
Current coping strategies were self-initiated rather than formally supported
Spiritual practices as coping strategies reflect the cultural context of the Bangka Belitung region
Participants included both community-dwelling and institutionalized older adults, suggesting the issue spans care settings
The authors highlighted that self-initiated strategies alone are insufficient to address the multidimensional nature of sleep problems
What This Means
This research explored how older adults in Bangka Belitung, Indonesia experience and think about their sleep. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 27 older adults from both community and care home settings between June and August 2025, analyzing the conversations for common themes. Most participants were women between 60 and 74 years old, many of whom were widowed and living with chronic health conditions.
The study found that poor sleep was very common among participants, with many reporting trouble falling asleep, waking up during the night, waking too early, and feeling tired during the day. These problems were connected to both emotional distress and uncomfortable sleeping environments. To cope, participants used a variety of strategies on their own, including changing their daily behaviors, taking daytime naps, adjusting their activities, and engaging in spiritual practices — a finding that reflects the cultural and religious context of the region.
This research suggests that sleep problems in this population are complex and influenced by physical, emotional, environmental, and spiritual factors all at once. Because older adults were largely relying on their own strategies without formal support, the authors concluded that there is a need for community-based programs and interventions that are sensitive to the local culture, rather than expecting individuals to manage poor sleep entirely on their own.
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Sari I, Hariyanti T, Lestrari R, Dradjat R. (2026). Experiences and perceptions of sleep quality among older adults in Bangka Belitung, Indonesia: a qualitative study.. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2026-0008en