Perceived insomnia, anxiety, and depression among older Russian immigrants

Psychol Rep. 2010 Apr;106(2):589-97. doi: 10.2466/pr0.106.2.589-597.

Abstract

There are few data on the relationships of anxiety and depression to insomnia among immigrants in the United States. Observations of high rates of symptoms of these associated conditions among older Russians indicate the need to focus clinical attention on this population. Relationships of self-reported depression and anxiety to insomnia complaints were investigated in a community-based sample of older Russian immigrants. Volunteers (N=307) were urban community-residing Russians (ages 50 to 95 years; 54% women). Surveys were conducted in a semistructured environment by bilingual educators in various community centers. 93% reported a major health problem, 83% experienced pain, and 62% had problems engaging in daily activities. Of the sample, 61% reported an insomnia complaint, and 43% considered depression and/or anxiety to be a major impairment. Logistic regression analysis showed that insomnia was the most important predictor of perceived anxiety and depression; the corresponding multivariate-adjusted odds ratio was 4.37. Insomnia complaints and perceptions of depression and anxiety among older Russians may have a synergistic effect. Both patients and primary-care physicians should be better educated regarding the recognition of barriers limiting access to adequate health care among older Russians.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anxiety Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology
  • Comorbidity
  • Depressive Disorder / epidemiology*
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Emigrants and Immigrants / psychology*
  • Emigrants and Immigrants / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • New York / epidemiology
  • Odds Ratio
  • Perception*
  • Prevalence
  • Regression Analysis
  • Russia / ethnology
  • Self Disclosure
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / psychology
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data