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Women and Sleep: Understanding the Impact of Biology and Lifestyle

The National Sleep Foundation's 2007 Sleep in America poll explores the sleep habits of American women aged 18-64, focusing on the effects of biology and lifestyle on sleep. The findings reveal that many women are not getting the sleep they need due to hormonal changes and the demands of their daily lives.

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Women and Sleep: Understanding the Impact of Biology and Lifestyle

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  1. Introduction Richard L. Gelula Chief Executive Officer National Sleep Foundation

  2. 2007 Sleep In America Poll • National Sleep Foundation’s 10th annual survey of America’s sleep habits • Past NSF polls have covered a wide array of topics: • General adults, 18 and over – most years • Older adults, 55-85 – 2003 • Infants, toddlers and young school children to age 10 – 2004 • Adolescents, 11-17 year olds – 2006 • This year’s poll focuses on Women and Sleep

  3. 2007 Sleep In America Poll • Polls are conducted independently by NSF • 2007 Task Force of experts: • Kathryn Lee, RN, PhD, Professor of Family Health Care Nursing and the James and Marjorie Livingston Chair School of Nursing, UCSF • Meir Kryger, MD, Director of Research & Education, Gaylord Sleep Center, Gaylord Hospital, Wallingford, CT • Fiona Baker, PhD, Sleep Physiologist at the Human Sleep Research Laboratory at SRI International, Menlo Park, CA • Amy Wolfson, PhD, Professor of Psychology at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, PA

  4. Scientific Workshop on Women & Sleep • Presented by NSF and the Atlanta School of Sleep Medicine • Top researchers in the fields of sleep, circadian rhythms, women’s health and women’s studies examine how sleep affects women in all aspects of their lives • Today is the last day of the workshop, just down the hall…

  5. National Sleep Awareness Week (NSAW) • NSAW is opportunity for communities and organizations to generate awareness about the importance of sleep • NSAW is supported by: • More than 700 members of our Community Sleep Awareness Partners program, • 100 state and federal agencies, and health, education and safety organizations

  6. NSAW This year’s Sleep Awareness Partners and Co-Partners include: • Partner: Center for Disease Control and Prevention • Co-Partners: • American Academy of Sleep Medicine • American College of Chest Physicians • International Life Sciences Institute • American Sleep Apnea Association

  7. NSAW This year’s Sleep Awareness Week co-sponsors include: • 12on12off Foundation • American College of Chest Physicians • American Lung Association • Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU • Federal Aviation Administration • Michigan Office of Highway Safety and Planning • National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health • National Organizations for Youth Safety • National Women’s Health Resource Center • Transportation Safety Division, Oregon DOT • U.S. Coast Guard • Yavapai Prescott Indian Tribe

  8. 2007 Sleep In America Poll The National Sleep Foundation’s 2007 Sleep in America poll is independent of NSAW sponsorship

  9. Methodology Kathryn Lee, RN, PhD Professor of Family Health Care Nursing and the James and Marjorie Livingston Chair School of Nursing University of California, San Francisco, CA

  10. Methodology • Telephone survey of 1,003 American women aged 18 - 64 living in the continental US • Oversampled pregnant and post partum women • 25-minute survey was administered • Sample is representative of the telephone households in the USA • Data collected between 9/12/06 and 10/28/06 • Margin of error: plus or minus 3% at the 95% confidence level

  11. Primary Poll Objectives • Determine the sleep habits of women • Investigate how women’s sleep is affected during different reproductive stages • Examine how women’s multiple roles affect their sleep • Identify how often women experience various sleep problems

  12. Women & Sleep:Key Findings Overall

  13. 2007 Poll Roadmap The 2007 Sleep in America Poll findings: • Sleep among women overall • The effect of women’s biology on sleep • The effect of women’s lifestyle on sleep

  14. Topline Findings… American women are… • Not sleeping well which affects all aspects of their life • Struggling to “do it all” and as a result sacrifice sleep • Using many coping strategies to sustain the pace of daily life • Impacted by biological and lifestyle factors affecting their sleep

  15. Women Are Not Getting the Sleep They Need 60% say they only get a good night’s sleep a few nights per week or less 60%

  16. Why Are Women Not Getting the Sleep They Need? 67% experience sleep problems at least a few nights each week, with 46% experiencing sleep problems every night 67%

  17. Why Are Women Not Getting the Sleep They Need? Biological changes impact sleep • Hormonal changes throughout the lifespan impact women’s ability to get a good night’s sleep • 24% of women of childbearing age report getting a good night’s sleep a few nights a month or less • 40% of pregnant and 55% of post partum women report getting a good night’s sleep a few nights a month or less • 25% of perimenopausal women and 30% of post menopausal women report getting a good night’s sleep a few nights a month or less

  18. Why Are Women Not Getting the Sleep They Need? Lifestyle impacts sleep • Working mothers (72%) and single working women (68%) are more likely to experience sleep problems like insomnia Other factors that wake women up • Noise (39%) • Giving care to children (20%) • Pets (17%)

  19. Why Are Women Not Getting the Sleep They Need? • Women who allow kids (9%) or pets (14%) to share their bed have the most disturbed sleep • 47% of women say they have no one helping them care for children at night

  20. Consequences of Poor Sleep • Women who experience daytime sleepiness: • Experience high stress (80%) • Spend less time with friends/family (39%) • Are too tired for sex (33%) • Drive drowsy at least once per month (27%) • In the past month, were late for work (20%)

  21. Consequences of Poor Sleep Poor sleep and poor mood are intertwined • Poor sleep can worsen mood • Approximately 80% of women report being stressed out, anxious or worried • 55% state they have been unhappy, sad, and depressed in the last month • Mood can in turn worsen sleep and lead to heightened depression and anxiety

  22. Consequences of Poor Sleep • Symptoms of poor sleep are associated with negative moods • Women who experience negative moods a lot are 2 ½ times more likely to infrequently get a good night’s sleep and more prone to: • Experience daytime sleepiness at least a few days per week (3 times more likely) • Experience a sleep problem at least a few nights per week (1 ½ times more likely) • Drive drowsy at least once per month (2 times more likely) • Miss work due to sleepiness in the past month (5 times more likely)

  23. How Women Cope with Poor Sleep… • 80% accept daytime sleepiness and keep going • 65% drink caffeinated beverages • Of those, 37% drink 3 or more caffeinated beverages a day

  24. Although Consistently Tired, Women Do Not Go to Bed Earlier In the hour prior to bed they:

  25. How Women Cope with Poor Sleep… Anti-depressants prescribed by a doctor 12% Sleep medication prescribed by a doctor 8% Combination sleep aid and pain reliever 9% OTC or store-bought sleep aids 6% Alternative therapy or herbal supplements 2%

  26. Compromise: Choices WomenMake When women are tired or run out of time during the day… • Healthy lifestyle activities are sacrificed • Forego sleep (52%) and exercise (48%) • Reduce time spent with family and friends (39%) • Stop healthy eating (37%) • Don’t participate in sexual activity (33%) • Work remains a priority • Only 20% of women put work on the “back burner”

  27. Sleep & Women’s Biology Meir Kryger, MD Director of Research & Education Gaylord Sleep Center Gaylord Hospital Wallingford, CT

  28. Sleep & Women’s Biology • Women experience more sleep problems than men • A woman’s overall health affects her ability to sleep well • As women progress through different life stages, changing biology affects their ability to get a good night’s sleep

  29. Sleep and Health • Poor health is linked to sleep problems • Of women who are in fair to poor health: • 66% experience a symptom of a sleep disorder at least a few nights per week • 40% diagnosed with a sleep disorder • 46% experience daytime sleepiness a few days per week • 26% have missed work in the past month • 54% use a sleep aid a few nights per week

  30. Different Life Stages • Respondents were asked about the quality and quantity of their sleep during 5 reproductive stages • Women of Childbearing Age • Pregnancy • Post Partum • Perimenopausal • Postmenopausal

  31. Women of Childbearing Age • 67% experience insomnia a few nights per week • 34% report experiencing a sleep disorder such as snoring, sleep apnea or RLS • 33% say their sleep is disturbed during the week of their menstrual cycle • 16% have missed work during the past month due to a sleep problem

  32. Pregnant Women • 30% say they rarely or never get a good night’s sleep • 84% have insomnia at least a few nights each week • 40% report sleep disorders such as snoring, sleep apnea or RLS • 54% nap at least twice per week

  33. Post Partum Women This is the first national sleep survey of post partum women. • Post partum women have insomnia at the same rate as pregnant women (84%) • 42% say they rarely/never get a good night’s sleep, more than any other group • 47% report no one helping with kids • 20% have driven drowsy with kids • 19% experience post partum blues/depression

  34. Perimenopausal Women • 59% have insomnia a few nights per week • 43% report symptoms of a sleep disorder such as snoring, sleep apnea or RLS • Noise (36%) and co-sleeping with pets (20%) are the most common nighttime disturbances • 20% experience night sweats and hot flashes

  35. Postmenopausal Women • Have the highest incidence of: • Limited time in bed - less than 6 hours (14%) • Sleep disorders such as snoring or sleep apnea (42%) • RLS (22%) • Sleep aid use (41%) • Obesity (30%)

  36. Sleep & A Woman’s Lifestyle

  37. Lifestyle and Sleep • Sleep is greatly impacted by lifestyle • 2007 NSF Sleep in America poll examined sleep among 6 segments of women • Working, Single Women • DINKs and Empty Nesters • Stay-at-Home Moms • Part-time Working Moms • Briefcases with Backpacks • 50-somethings

  38. Working, Single Women • Spend the least time in bed, generally less than 6 hours • 54% wake up un-refreshed a few days each week • 70% accept this and keep going • 47% consume more than 3 cups/cans of caffeinated beverages per day • Nearly 30% use the weekends to “catch up” on sleep

  39. DINKs & Empty Nesters Working married/partnered women with no children or grown children get better sleep than most groups - despite being in bed less than 7 hours per night • Low incidence of sleep problems (15%) • Yet, healthy lifestyle choices are still compromised because women are tired or run out of time • 46% report having no time for sleep • 47% sacrifice exercise • 38% don’t participate in sexual activity

  40. Stay-at-Home Moms • 74% rarely get a good night’s sleep • Despite this, 61% say they spend over 8 hours in bed each night • In the hour before bed, 71% complete household chores and activities with kids • 57% nap at least once per week • 43% curtail leisure activities • 39% forego sexual activity

  41. Part-time Working Moms • Report getting the best sleep of all the groups • 50% say they are in bed for over 8 hours per night • 68% accept the day’s challenges and keep going • Napping is frequent; 60% take a nap at least once per week

  42. Briefcases with Backpacks • Married/partnered women with school-aged kids, who work full time • Spend less than 6 hours in bed per night • 72% have insomnia • 70% accept sleepiness and keep going • 56% use caffeine • Highest rate of drowsy driving (35%) • Lifestyle compromises are high • 60% give up sleep and exercise • 52% do not socialize regularly with family and friends • 44% do not have time for sex

  43. 50-somethings • Are not employed, no children at home • Have highest frequency of sleep disorders • Highest sleep aid usage (41%) • 32% say they get a good night’s sleep only a few nights per month • Spend over 8 hours in bed per night and frequently nap

  44. NSF 2007 Poll Overview American women are… • Not sleeping well which affects all aspects of their life • Struggling to “do it all” and as a result sacrifice sleep • Using many coping strategies to sustain the pace of daily life • Impacted by biological and lifestyle factors affecting their sleep

  45. What Women Can Do? • Make healthy sleep a priority! • Make time to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night • Create a relaxing and quiet environment for sleep • Exercise regularly (not less than 3 hours before bed time) and eat healthy • Avoid caffeine and alcohol a few hours before bed • If you have a new infant, arrange for help

  46. NSF Great American Sleep Challenge • A nationwide, online interactive campaign designed to focus America’s attention on getting better sleep • Visit www.sleepfoundation.org to sign up • There is still time! Sleep Challenge continues through March 31st

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