National Sleep Foundation's 2018 Sleep in America® Poll Shows Americans Failing to Prioritize Sleep

WASHINGTON, March 12, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Sleep Foundation's annual Sleep in America® poll finds that among U.S. adults with excellent sleep health, nearly 90% say they feel very effective at getting things done each day, compared to only 46% of those with poor sleep health (see exhibit A). The study also shows that only 10% of American adults prioritize their sleep over other aspects of daily living such as fitness/nutrition, work, social life, and hobbies/personal interests (see exhibit B).

"The data are clear: Good sleepers realize the benefits of a good night's sleep and see themselves as more effective at getting things done the following day.  It's therefore disappointing to see so few people actually prioritizing their sleep," said Maurice Ohayon, MD, DSC, PhD, Director of the Stanford Sleep Epidemiology Research Center and Chair of the National Sleep Foundation's Population Health and Methodology Council.

The 2018 Sleep in America poll finds that a majority of the public (65%) says that getting enough sleep makes them a more effective person, yet 41% admit to rarely taking into account how much sleep they need in planning for the next day.

"This is exactly what I see in my practice every day," responded Dr. Joseph Ojile, Chair of the Foundation's Board of Directors. "People, from children to adults, are consistently overscheduled. They are not getting enough sleep because they do not block out enough time for it."

The results of the National Sleep Foundation's quarterly Sleep Health Index showed little change in the nation's sleep health, with the overall score remaining at a strong 76 out of 100.  The greatest shift was seen in one aspect of sleep duration, with American adults getting more weekday sleep. The Sleep Health Index results are not all good, though, as sleep quality remains at a disappointing 67.

The National Sleep Foundation kicks off its annual Sleep Awareness Week March 11, 2018. In addition, the National Sleep Foundation is offering new resources for your sleep health at sleepfoundation.org/SAW.

About the National Sleep Foundation
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is dedicated to improving health and well-being through sleep education and advocacy. Founded in 1990, the NSF is committed to advancing excellence in sleep health theory, research and practice. Sleepfoundation.org  Sleep.org  SleepHealthJournal.org

About the Sleep in America® Poll

The Sleep in America poll is the National Sleep Foundation's premier annual review of specific sleep topics in America.  The poll was first conducted in 1991 and was most recently produced by Langer Research Associates. The 2018 poll, administered alongside the Sleep Health Index, explored how people prioritize their sleep, and how they understand its importance in accomplishing daily activities (doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2018.02.007).

About the Sleep Health Index®

The Sleep Health Index is a quarterly fielded, nationally representative survey of American adults; it tracks trends and chronicles our nation's sleep health over time.

The full report of results was produced by Langer Research Associates.  For more information on the methodology, go to the National Sleep Foundation's website or refer to the Sleep Health Journal (doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2017.05.011).

Contact: Tim Colbert
(412) 548-1842
nsfmedia@sleepfoundation.org

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SOURCE National Sleep Foundation