A groundbreaking study examining sleep patterns across the UK population has revealed that individuals living in deprived areas experience poorer quality sleep compared to those in more affluent areas. Furthermore, the research found that sleep quality is influenced by both social deprivation and ethnicity, regardless of factors such as age, gender, personal wealth, employment, and education.
Published in the journal “Clocks & Sleep,” the study highlighted several key findings. Individuals residing in deprived areas reported greater difficulty in waking up in the morning, were more likely to nap during the day, and frequently experienced nighttime awakenings. Professor John Groeger, the lead researcher and head of Sleep Well Science at Nottingham Trent University, expressed excitement about the study’s implications.
The research shed light on the significant consequences of sleep disparities. Regular poor sleep has been associated with increased risks of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and reduced life expectancy. It has also been linked to mental health problems. Professor Groeger emphasized the wide-ranging implications of sleeping poorly, including increased vulnerability to infections and compromised educational outcomes. The study underscored the urgent need to address the issue of sleep inequality.
Collaborating with psychologists from the University of Roehampton, the researchers analyzed data from the UK Biobank, an online database containing medical and lifestyle records of over 500,000 Britons aged 40 to 69. They examined reports of various sleep problems, such as sleeping too much or too little for their age, nighttime awakenings, early morning awakenings, snoring, daytime sleepiness, and difficulty getting out of bed in the morning.
The results revealed that nearly one-third of the participants reported sleep durations shorter (24.7%) or longer (7.7%) than recommended for their respective age groups, both of which were associated with an increased risk of mortality. The researchers also found that white individuals were more likely to find waking up in the morning easier compared to black, Asian, or mixed ethnicity individuals.
While the study did not investigate the root causes of poor sleep in deprived areas, previous research has identified factors such as overcrowding, noise pollution, air pollution, and light pollution as contributing factors. Professor Groeger highlighted the impact of living conditions, particularly the postcode or area of residence, as having the most significant influence on sleep quality, surpassing income, marital status, and age.
The research team identified specific characteristics associated with better sleep quality. The optimal sleepers were found to be male, young, affluent, highly educated, living in homes with others, owning multiple vehicles, and holding stable, long-term employment. The study also indicated that employed or retired individuals reported better sleep quality compared to those who were unemployed or unable to work.
Utilizing the data gathered, the researchers developed the problematic sleep index, an innovative tool that consolidates various sleep issues into a single measure. This tool can be utilized in community healthcare settings to support individuals with poor sleep quality. Professor Groeger emphasized that this index could identify areas with a high likelihood of poor sleep and enable the implementation of targeted educational programs to address the diverse range of factors influencing sleep.
By dispelling the notion that a fixed number of hours of sleep is sufficient for everyone, the findings challenge the idea that “eight hours is enough.” Professor Groeger stressed the individual variability in sleep needs and the importance of considering age, gender, postcode, and other sleep-related factors to accurately gauge sleep quality.
Overall, this groundbreaking study calls for attention to sleep disparities across the UK population. Through targeted interventions, education, and awareness, it is hoped that these findings will contribute to the improvement of sleep quality and reduction of sleep inequalities among different communities.
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