People worldwide are unhappy about their sleep but are less likely than ever before to do anything to improve it, according to the latest sleep survey by Royal Philips, an Amsterdam, health technology company.
In the company’s fifth annual sleep survey, “Wake Up Call: Global Sleep Satisfaction Trends,” Philips surveyed 13,000 adults in 13 countries and found that worry, relationships and cellphone use were the key culprits in sabotaging a good night’s sleep.
Of everyone queried, only 49% said they were satisfied with their sleep. However, fewer people in 2020 reported taking action to improve their sleep, compared with 2019 results. For example, in 2019, 39% of people said they read before bed to help them fall asleep. In 2020, only 28% reported turning to a book before bed.
“The decrease in people taking action to improve sleep is alarming, especially when it is clear people around the world deeply value sleep,” said Mark Aloia, global lead for behavior change, sleep and respiratory care at Philips. “Sleep deficit impacts people both mentally and physically, so we need to educate people on available sleep resources and empower them with the confidence that their efforts will pay off.”
The survey also found:
- 36% have slept away from their bed partner to get better sleep.
- 74% report using cellphones in bed.
- 60% said they are interested in new information or strategies to help them get better rest.
- 15% have tried or currently use either marijuana or CBD oil to improve sleep.
- 48% of people with sleep apnea said they felt getting good sleep was out of their control.
