Participate in social activities to sleep better

Older adults who have trouble sleeping, could benefit from participating in social activities, in particular attending religious events, suggests a new study.

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Written By: Agencies | Published : March 2, 2016 3:34 PM IST

Older adults who have trouble sleeping, could benefit from participating in social activities, in particular attending religious events, suggests a new study. The findings suggest that as sleep is one of the most important factors for well-being, engaging in social activities could be key to health ageing. Social connectedness is a key component for health and well-being for older adults, said one of the researchers Jen-Hao Chen, assistant professor at University of Missouri in the US. Close connections to, and participation in, social groups provides a sense of belonging and can be essential for healthy aging, Chen noted. The study was published in the Journal of Social Science and Medicine. (Read: Snooze foods: Eat these, sleep better!)

To study the relationship between sleep and social participation for older adults, Chen analysed two waves of data collected over a five year period from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project. He looked at three aspects of social participation -- volunteering, attending religious services and being part of organised group activities. Chen then compared the data to sleep outcomes measured by actigraphy - wearable wrist sleep trackers. Results showed that older adults with greater levels of social participation were getting better sleep. (Read: Use rose petals to get a good night's sleep!)

Source: IANS

Photo source: Shutterstock(Image for representational purpose only)


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