Theory development
This work provides understanding and insight in the situational
context and background of the participants' lives that influenced
their sleep management practices (see Fig. 1). This situational contextual
model adds to the understanding of Buysse's conceptual
model of sleep health14 by providing potential background perspectives
to the sleep dimension process. The subjective sleep quality/
satisfaction is an assessment of sleep that is based on the individual's
life situations and perspectives related to environmental and social
contexts and backgrounds, upon which everyday experiences of
sleep are situated and prioritized. The participant's life situation and
priorities may place sleep health as only part of their lifeworld,
where sleep opportunities are not maximized. The participants' current
priority may change over time as the situations change as described
by a few of the older participants. For some, sleep practices
involve only obtaining the minimal amount of sleep to maintain
alertness. Furthermore, in these narratives, bad sleep results in
poorer mood, lack of concentration, and inability to function. These
sleep management practices potentially affect health outcomes
such as increased severity/frequency of cardiovascular, metabolic,
and mental health diseases and injuries due to lack of alertness or
focus. Future research could examine contextual priorities in other
populations to further understand and give insight into potential influences
on sleep health as well as a way to guide interventions to
promote sleep health.