Association Among Musculoskeletal Pain, Psychological Factors and Sleep Quality in Community-dwelling Older Adults in Lagos State, Nigeria: A Cross-sectional Study

Background Musculoskeletal pain is prevalent among older adults and is often linked to psychological distress and impaired sleep. In rapidly urbanising settings such as Lagos, factors including overcrowding, economic strain, and constrained social support may modify these relationships. However, evidence from African populations remains limited. This study examined the associations between musculoskeletal pain, psychological factors, and sleep quality among community-dwelling older adults in Lagos State. Methods A cross-sectional analytical survey was conducted among 115 adults aged ≥ 60 years living in Ikorodu LGA. Data were collected using the Brief Pain Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Spearman’s Rank-Order Correlation was used to examine associations among pain, psychological symptoms, and sleep quality. Results All participants reported musculoskeletal pain. Pain intensity showed a significant positive correlation with poor sleep quality (ρ = 0.366, p < 0.001). No significant associations were observed between pain intensity and anxiety (ρ = 0.0589, p = 0.560) or depression (ρ = − 0.0937, p = 0.354). Conclusion Musculoskeletal pain was significantly associated with poorer sleep quality, whereas no meaningful association was observed with psychological symptoms in this cohort of older adults. These findings suggest that interventions targeting pain management and sleep health may offer practical benefits for promoting healthy ageing in Lagos Nigeria and comparable urban low- and middle-income settings.