Objective sleep measures and subjective sleep satisfaction: how do older adults with insomnia define a good night's sleep?

The relationship between objective sleep measures and subjective sleep satisfaction was explored in a sample of 47 older adults (59 years and older; 35 women, 12 men) with primary insomnia. Participants submitted to all-night sleep evaluations (polysomnography) for 2 nights. After each night, participants provided subjective sleep-satisfaction ratings. Depth of sleep (decreased Stage 1 sleep and increased Stages 3 and 4 sleep) and sleep latency were the best predictors of subjective sleep satisfaction. For other sleep variables such as sleep efficiency and wake time after sleep onset, no value predicted satisfaction on a particular night. However, for these sleep variables, relative improvement from Night 1 to Night 2 predicted greater subjective satisfaction.