Geographic Location Influencing Optimal Sleep Hours Revealed by Recent Research
Snooze Around the Globe: Why Your Sleep Needs May Differ from Your Neighbors
Who knew that catching some Zs could be so culturally diverse? New research from the University of British Columbia and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has found that the amount of sleep needed varies significantly from one country to another. Analyzing sleep data from 5,000 individuals across 20 different countries, the study conclusively showed that geographical location and cultural practices play a significant role in determining how much shut-eye we need.
Here's a quick rundown of average sleep hours for a few countries:
- The residents of France logged an average of 7 hours and 52 minutes.
- In Japan, the average sleep cycle was a brief 6 hours and 18 minutes.
- The folks in Canada got a somewhat longer 7 hours and 27 minutes of sleep on average.
- In the U.S., the average was around the standard 7 hours.
Cultural context, such as occupation, work-life balance, and day-to-day schedules, all contribute to our individual sleep requirements. Dr. Christine Ou, the study's lead author, points out that those who sleep closer to their cultural norms for sleep duration tend to have better overall health.
Surprisingly, the research also revealed that residents across all 20 countries slept about one hour less than what's considered optimal. Yet, there was no clear evidence that those who slept less were less healthy than their well-rested counterparts or those in countries with a higher sleep average.
If you're looking to improve your sleep patterns, consider the average sleep duration in your country as a starting point and modify it based on your personal needs.
Now, if you're wondering what you can do to ensure you get a good night's rest, check out our guide on 5 Ways to Get More Deep Sleep-and Why This Sleep Phase Is So Important, According to Experts. Sweet dreams!
Footnotes:[2] University of British Columbia. (2021). Study confirms ideal amount of sleep varies with cultural norms, debunking universal guideline for sleep duration. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 25, 2022 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210525144224.htm
[3] Canadian Sleep Society. (n.d.). How Much Sleep Do We Need? Retrieved May 25, 2022 from www.sleepforsuccess.ca/need-sleep/
[5] Statistics Canada. (2019). Daily Time Use and Activity, Canada, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2022 from www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/data/t1/tmp/2017006a/2017006a_1-eng.htm#tables
- For enhanced wellness and health, paying attention to the average sleep hours in your country, like 7 hours and 52 minutes in France (as per the study published in Realsimple, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences), can serve as a starting point when modifying your sleep patterns.
- As found in a study by the University of British Columbia and published in ScienceDaily, cultural norms significantly influence the sleep needs of individuals, with residents across various countries, such as Japan with 6 hours and 18 minutes of average sleep, deviating from the recommended optimal sleep duration.
- Interestingly, the same study revealed that while people across 20 countries sleep approximately one hour less than the ideal, there was no conclusive evidence linking shorter sleep to lower health.
- To learn more about improving sleep quality and the importance of deep sleep according to experts, you may find our guide on health-and-wellness tips, "5 Ways to Get More Deep Sleep", particularly informative. Sweet dreams!
