Sleep research

Professor Arber and Dr Meadows, of Surrey University, have analysed the information you have given us about sleep.

Poor sleep can be the cause of, as well as the result of, ill health. Disrupted sleep, and only sleeping for a short time, are linked to higher levels of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other health conditions. Just over a quarter (28%) of people reported ‘short sleep’ (under 7 hours) which would usually be considered to have adverse effects on health if lasting a long time.

Women were more likely than men to report problems with their sleep, and generally problems were more common as people got older. Around one-quarter (26%) of women and one-fifth (20%) of men told us that their sleep quality was bad, this was highest for those aged 45-54. Married people tend to report the best sleep, whilst those who are divorced/separated have the worst.

Those who told us that they were in ‘poor’ health were more than 13 times likely to say that they had bad sleep than those in ‘excellent’ health. Looking at socio-economic circumstance, those who are more ‘advantaged’ (higher levels of education, in professional or managerial careers) reported better sleep than those who were relatively ‘disadvantaged’.

This work supports research which has been carried out on the differences between men and women, and the effect of age on sleep. But there has been surprisingly little research on socio-economic status and sleep. Understanding Society has suggested that differences in socio-economic circumstances are more important than the gender differences. Professor Arber and Dr Meadows believe that Understanding Society offers the possibilities for a great deal of work looking at how sleep affects, and is affected by, the rest of our lives.