Americans Are Getting More Sleep

An analysis of data from a large US study has shown that Americans are now getting more sleep than in previous years.

The researchers evaluated trends in self-reported sleep duration and waking activities using 2003-2016 data from the US American Time Use Survey (ATUS) (N=181,335).
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Results revealed that sleep duration had increased over time by 1.40 minutes per year on weekdays and 0.83 minutes per year on weekends among students, employed respondents, and retirees. However, this pattern did not occur in unemployed or labor force respondents.

Data indicated that, on workdays, the prevalence of short (7 hours or less) sleep decreased by 0.44% per year and average sleep (more than 7 to 9 hours) decreased by 0.03% per year, whereas long (at least 9 hours) sleep increased by 0.48% per year.

Ultimately, the researchers found that these changes in sleep duration were primarily due to respondents going to sleep earlier in the evening. They also noted that the proportion of respondents who watched television or read before bed had decreased over time. Respondents’ abilities to work, learn, bank, shop, and perform administrative tasks online were found to be likely contributors to more free time that led to increased sleep duration.

“The findings indicate first successes in the fight against sleep deficiency. Public health consequences of the observed increase in the prevalence of long sleep remain unclear and warrant further investigation.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Basner M, Dinges DF. Sleep duration in the United States 2003-2016: first signs of success in the fight against sleep deficiency? [Published online January 8, 2018]. Sleep. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsy012.