Study Shows: This is What the Ideal Sleep Duration Depends On

As Canadian researchers report in the journal "PNAS," the optimal sleep duration from a health perspective depends on the respective cultural practices. People whose sleep duration aligns with these norms tend to be healthier.

Connection Between Sleep Duration and Health

Numerous studies have already shown that shorter sleep duration is associated with chronic health problems and mental illnesses. "The strong connection between sleep duration and health raises the question of whether people from countries with shorter sleep duration might have poorer health than those from countries where people sleep longer," write the researchers led by Steven Heine, Professor of Social and Cultural Psychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, in their work.

Analysis of Previous Studies and Current Survey

To clarify this question, they analyzed the results of 14 previous studies from 71 countries - including Austria - on the average national sleep duration and compared them with the average national health values. Additionally, they collected sleep duration and health data from around 5,000 people from 20 countries through a survey.

The analysis of the existing studies - according to which Austrians sleep between seven and eight hours daily - showed that national sleep duration does not predict health. "Countries with shorter sleep duration had neither a shorter life expectancy nor higher rates of heart disease or diabetes," the publication states. Moreover, there were lower rates of obesity than in countries with longer sleep duration.

In Japan, People Sleep the Shortest

Among the 20 countries where researchers surveyed 250 people each (Austria was not included), people in Japan sleep the shortest on average, with six hours and 18 minutes. In contrast, the average sleep duration is significantly longer in France (seven hours and 52 minutes) or Canada (seven hours and 27 minutes).

There were no significant differences in health between the countries with long and short sleepers. While previous studies have found a connection between shorter sleep duration and poorer health, the researchers in the current study found no such evidence.

Adapt Sleep Recommendations to Cultural Norms

However, it was shown that people whose sleep duration more closely aligns with their respective national customs tend to have better health. "Our results suggest that sleep recommendations need to be adapted to cultural norms," said Heine in a press release. There is no universal sleep duration that applies to everyone.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.