Sleep Habits Differ by Ethnicity

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New polls report more differences than similarities in sleep habits among four major ethnic groups.

The majority of respondents from each ethnic group -- Asians, blacks, Hispanics and whites -- in the 2010 Sleep in America poll agreed that poor sleep is at the root of many health problems. However, differences among the four ethnic groups outweighed similarities.

Blacks reported the busiest bedtime routines. They are the most likely to perform activities in the hour before going to bed every night or almost every night, specifically watching TV and praying or doing another religious practice. Whether on workdays or non-workdays, blacks spend much more time in bed without sleeping than the other ethnic groups.

Most blacks report praying every night -- more than four times the reported frequency of Asians, twice the rate of whites and 1.5 times the rate of Hispanics.

Blacks and Hispanics are 10 times more likely to have sex every night than Asians and 2.5 times more likely than whites.

Among those employed, blacks and Asians are more likely than whites and Hispanics to report doing job-related work in the hour before bed. Blacks and Hispanics report losing sleep over personal financial concerns and employment concerns at a higher rate than whites or Asians.

Asians report getting the best sleep, the least amount of sleep problems and infrequent use of sleep aids. They are about half as likely to discuss their sleep issues with a healthcare professional, and are half as likely to report having been diagnosed with a sleep disorder. The poll shows that Asians are more than twice as likely as any other group to use the Internet every night. They are also the least likely to watch TV an hour before sleep.

Blacks report getting the least amount of sleep on workdays. They also say that they need an average of 7 hours and 5 minutes of sleep each night to perform at their best during the day, which is significantly less than Asians and Hispanics at 7 hours and 29 minutes each.

"The finding that blacks say they need less sleep and get less sleep is instructive for public health professionals," Jose S. Loredo, M.D., M.P.H., professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, was quoted as saying. "Their total sleep time and attitudes regarding sleep may be associated with blacks' higher rates of sleep apnea, hypertension and diabetes and provide sleep-related insight into how to improve awareness and education programs and, very importantly, how to improve therapy compliance rates."

Whites are the most likely to report sleeping with their pets and/or their significant other or spouse. Among those married or partnered respondents with children, Asians and Hispanics are the most likely to report that they sleep in the same room with their children.

Whites report the highest rate of diagnosis for insomnia, and Blacks/African-Americans have the highest rate of diagnosed sleep apnea among the four groups. Among those experiencing sleep problems, Whites are the most likely to report using over-the-counter sleep aids. Blacks/African-Americans are almost twice as likely to report taking medications prescribed by a doctor, and Asians are the least likely to report using any form of sleep medication.

"If you are experiencing problems sleeping," Thomas J. Balkin, Ph.D., Chairman of the National Sleep Foundation, was quoted as saying. "Take charge of your own sleep. You should critically examine your bedtime routines and pre-sleep activities and make time to ensure your bedroom is conducive to your sleep comfort. You will spend approximately a third of your life in bed, so it's worth it to take time to make sure your bed and bedtime routine are right for you. If you continue having problems sleeping for more than a few weeks, it's advisable to speak with your healthcare professional."

SOURCE: Sleep in America Poll, National Sleep Foundation, March 8, 2010

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