Study objectives: To utilize qualitative data analysis to enrich our understanding of the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on those with a pre-pandemic history of insomnia.
Methods: The sample included 208 participants who completed the Coronavirus Impact Scale in April and May 2020. A content analysis was used to analyze responses to a free-response item "Please tell us about any other ways the coronavirus has impacted your life" (n = 175), using a combination of inductive and deductive coding.
Results: Both negative and positive themes emerged, including altered access to health care, negative financial impacts, and various emotions surrounding COVID-19. Some shared "silver linings" such as having more time for physical activity and deepening familial connections.
Conclusions: This analysis provides novel insight into the shared concerns and lived experiences of those with a history of insomnia. Understanding these unique stressors can enable healthcare professionals to better anticipate the needs of this population, as well as learn to navigate future stressful events.
Keywords: epidemiology; insomnia; stress.
© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Sleep Research Society.