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Sleep problems differ among different ethnicities

Written by: David Castillo on March 11th, 2010

Sleep problems differ among different ethnicities | read this item

According to a recent national survey, sleep problems and sleep habits vary among different ethnic groups. However, one general observation was made—most people don’t get enough sleep.

“We found that all groups are sleep deprived,” says Meir Kryger, MD and chair of the board of directors at the National Sleep Foundation—the organization which conducted the survey.

The statistics indicate that one-third of the respondents in all ethnic groups get less sleep during workdays.

“We didn’t know if our [previous] survey did justice to the fact there may be different cultural effects,” explained Dr. Kryger on why the study focused on different ethnicities.

The respondents also attributed their loss of sleep to the stress caused by the recession, causing loss of finances and jobs.

Here are some of the survey results as published in WebMD:

•   On weekdays or workdays, blacks reported they slept the least — 6 hours, 14 minutes, compared to 6 hours, 34 minutes for Hispanics, 6 hours, 48 minutes for Asians, and 6 hours, 52 minutes for whites.
•   Ten percent of blacks and 10% of Hispanics report having sex every night or nearly every night in the hour before bedtime, compared to 4% of whites and 1% of Asians.
•   Blacks had different pre-bedtime activities and tended to pray in the hour before bedtime, Kryger says. ”Seventy-one percent of black people polled said they prayed,” he said. “But only 18% of Asians.”
•   Asians are least likely to drink alcohol an hour before bed — a practice that many mistakenly think will help sleep. Only 1% of Asians had a nightcap every night or nearly every night, compared to 7% of whites, 4% of blacks, and 4% of Hispanics.
•   Hispanics polled are more likely than other groups to say health-related concerns disturb their sleep at least a few nights a week — 16% of Hispanics, compared to 12% of blacks, 9% of Asians, and 7% of whites.
•   Whites are most likely to sleep with their pets — as well as more likely to sleep with their spouse or significant others. Sixteen percent of white respondents say they sleep with a pet, and 72% say they sleep with their partners. In comparison, only 4% of Asians, 4% of Hispanics, and 2% of black people let the pet on the bed. But the space isn’t always saved for a spouse or partner, apparently. Only 48% of blacks and Asians sleep with a ”significant other,” and 54% of Hispanics.
•   Recession-related stresses affected sleep to different degrees, with Hispanics and blacks more affected than whites or Asians.

National-Sleep-Foundation