Mar 07, 2019

In recognition of World Sleep Day, Philips presents its annual global sleep survey results

Today Philips announced the findings from its annual global sleep survey in a report, “The Global Pursuit of Better Sleep Health.” The survey, executed each year in recognition of World Sleep Day (March 15), surveyed adults in 12 countries to capture attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors around sleep. Results showed that while awareness of sleep’s impact on overall health is on the rise, for many across the globe, achieving quality sleep health remains elusive.

The survey, executed by KJT Group on behalf of Philips, interviewed 11,006 respondents in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, and United States. Among the key findings, results showed:

We’d rather consult the Internet than a physician.

8 in 10 global adults want to improve the quality of their sleep, but the majority (60%) have not sought help from a medical professional, citing that they do not feel they need support or treatment, don’t consider sleep issues to be a serious problem, feel they know how to make the necessary changes, or because cost of treatment is too high as their primary reasons. When struggling with sleep issues, those surveyed said they’re also most likely to turn to online information sources for their sleep concerns. Even more concerning, 65% of those who reported having sleep apnea have either never used or are no longer using sleep apnea therapy to treat their disease, showing a major disconnect in awareness vs. action in addressing sleep issues.

We’re willing to try new things to improve sleep.

Compared to diet and exercise, sleep is perceived to have more of an impact on one’s overall health, with 77% of global adults saying sleep has a moderate to major impact on health. People across the globe are seeking ways to improve sleep, with 69% of global adults saying they previously or currently read ahead of bedtime to improve sleep. Other top strategies include watching television (69%), listening to soothing music (67%), and implementing a set bedtime/wake time (57%).

Lifestyle factors and sleep disorders stand in the way of a good night’s sleep.

Survey respondents indicated that their sleep is most impacted by worry/stress (54%), sleep environment (40%), and work or school schedule (37%). Beyond lifestyle factors, 37% reported experiencing insomnia, while 29% snore, 22% have shift work sleep disorder, and 10% suffer from sleep apnea. These numbers are higher than the 2018 survey, which showed 26% reporting insomnia, and 21% saying they snored.

Age and gender play a role in how well we sleep.

Those age 18-34 sleep longer at night than other age groups. Additionally, while those 50 and under suffer from conditions that impact their sleep, particularly insomnia and shift work sleep disorder, they also report cost of treatment and visits and embarrassment as reasons for not seeking help from a medical professional. Those 65 or older are the most likely to have a consistent sleep routine, and least likely to report that their sleep has gotten worse in the past five years. Women are more likely to say they suffer from insomnia (41%) over men (32%), and of those that live with their partner (66%), 35% say they sleep apart, at least occasionally, because of their partner’s snoring.

To view additional findings from this year or last year’s global survey, visit: Philips.com/WorldSleepDay.

For more information on Philips’ advanced solutions for sleep and respiratory care, follow @PhilipsSleepWellness, @PhilipsResp or visit www.Philips.com/SmartSleep.