Objective: The association between age and sleep problems is considered to be positive, and medication use is a common health care intervention among older individuals. Because daytime consequences are often stated as a reason to seek care, we study to what extent the medicalization of sleep problems is found in an aging European population, with a focus on daily activities.
Method: Data from the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe are used in three-level, generalized linear mixed models. Medicalization is operationalized as the use of medication for sleep problems at least once per week.
Results: Men are more likely than women to use medication for sleep problems, and the process of aging is associated with a decrease in medicalization.
Discussion: Sleep problems seem to be medicalized particularly when they prevent aging individuals from engaging in work-related responsibilities, as medication is especially used by employed individuals with sleep problems.
Keywords: SHARE; longitudinal analysis; medicalization; older adults; sleep problems.