Roles of Sleep Quality, Self-Efficacy, and Coping Style in the Frailty of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: Although the association between sleep disorders and frailty has been well established, little is known about the cognitive appraisal mechanisms underlying this association. Building on the transactional theory of stress and coping, this study explores the role of self-efficacy and coping style in the association between sleep quality and frailty among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 585 community-dwelling older adults were investigated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Tilburg Frailty Indicator, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression were performed. A moderated mediation model was established using the PROCESS macro.

Results: Poor sleep quality affects frailty directly (B = 0.193, p < .01) and indirectly via self-efficacy (B = 0.063, p < .01). The negative impact of poor sleep on frailty through self-efficacy was moderated by both positive and negative coping style (index =  -0.007). The moderating effect was stronger when participants' negative coping tendencies increased.

Conclusions: Poor sleep quality indirectly influences frailty by modifying self-efficacy. Effective coping strategies can help attenuate this association.

Clinical implications: Timely sleep assessment and tailored strategies such as psychoeducational programs and targeted coping skills training may be beneficial for preventing frailty in older adults.