A new study had found that more people have experienced sleep problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. About 6 in 10 people worldwide have a poor sleep.
Participants displayed poor sleep patterns
Researchers gathered participants from 79 countries to come to this conclusion. About 2 in 3 had a delayed sleep pattern. A delayed sleep pattern meant a minimal change in the amount of time the participants spent in bed. However, they went to bed later than usual, took more naps and experienced more nightmares.
About 1 in 5 participants experienced a sleep loss and fragmented pattern. More women than men experienced this sleep pattern. In this case, participants had late bedtimes and spent less time in bed trying to sleep. Their sleep was limited, of poor quality and less likely to be replenished with naps.
Another 1 in 10 of the respondents were sleep opportunists. These people limited their sleep even before the pandemic. They now had a longer sleep duration and spent more time in bed than people with other sleep patterns. However, they still experienced changes in their daily routines linked with heightened stress from their families and a lower chance of employment.
Only 5% of the people surveyed had a deregulated and distressed sleep pattern. These participants experienced insomnia, more naps, nightmares and more sleep determination than the others.
Insufficient sleep is detrimental to your health
According to Dr. Megan Petrov, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation at Arizona State University, 56.5% of the participants who reported having insomnia during the pandemic had more sleep disturbances. She also adds that sleep is a crucial part of your health. When people have low-quality sleep or insufficient sleep, it can have negative impacts on their health.
Petrov adds that although the sleep disruptions have not come as a surprise, they should still be taken seriously. Getting sufficient sleep is necessary for becoming a productive member of your community and engaging with colleagues and family.
With the pandemic coming to an end, people should begin taking note of the cha he’s in their sleep and deciding whether they are an improvement from their pre-pandemic lifestyle.
