649 Coping strategies moderate the effect of perceived stress on sleep and health in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic is an enormous stressor that can impact various dimensions of health, including sleep health. Older adults may be particularly vulnerable. Coping strategies to manage stress can also impact health outcomes by modifying the relationships between perceived stress and health outcomes. This study examined concurrent and longitudinal associations between perceived stress and sleep health, mental health, physical health, and overall perceived health outcomes among older adults. We also examined whether coping strategies moderate these associations. Methods Older adults (n = 115; Mage = 68.62, 58.3% female) reported perceived stress (PSS), coping strategies (Brief COPE), global sleep quality (PSQI global sleep quality score and dichotomous good/poor sleep quality), depressive symptoms (CES-D), and perceived mental, physical, and overall health (RAND-12) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results The number of individuals with poor sleep quality was greater during the COVID-19 pandemic than before (50% vs. 36.5%). Participants also reported poorer physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic than before. Hierarchical linear regression and hierarchical logistic regression revealed that higher perceived stress was cross-sectionally associated with poorer sleep (e.g., higher total PSQI score and dichotomous sleep quality category). Higher perceived stress was associated with worse depressive symptoms and global mental health concurrently and longitudinally. Coping strategies moderated the relationships between perceived stress and physical health and overall perceived health. For example, higher perceived stress was associated with poorer overall perceived health for those who have lower problem-focused coping—but not for those with higher problem-focused coping—both concurrently and longitudinally. Conclusion Perceived stress influences cross-sectional and longitudinal measures of sleep health and general health among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coping strategies can moderate the effects of perceived stress on health outcomes. Older adults may benefit from prevention and intervention strategies targeting stress management and problem-focused coping strategies. Support (if any) This research was supported by the National Institute of Aging (R01AG047139), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (T32HL007560; T32HL082610), and the National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH019986)