Shocking sleep stats
With daylight saving starting this weekend, already sleep-deprived New Zealanders are going to struggle when they lose an hour.
A Southern Cross Healthcare Group survey into the living habits of Kiwis has revealed that almost a quarter of us already feel tired or fatigued every day, with this rising to 36% among people under 30.
The survey also showed that 80% of New Zealanders would rather have a full night’s sleep than a big night out.
Worse still, it revealed that one in ten (11%) New Zealanders have fallen asleep at the wheel.
Southern Cross Health Society CEO Peter Tynan says the survey showed that New Zealanders are desperate for sleep.
“A US National Health Interview Survey linked sleep problems to obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, the risk of stroke, diabetes and depression – getting a good night’s sleep is a building block of a healthy lifestyle,” says Tynan.
“Interestingly our research also showed that over half of us are using an electronic device an hour before bed. So a big part of the problem could be put down to our pre-sleep routine.”
Following good bedtime habits – not drinking caffeine or exercising too close to bedtime, going to bed and getting up at the same time, and not having any loud external stimuli – can help the brain relax and go towards getting a good night’s sleep.
“In our lifetime we spend on average 26 years sleeping, and we all know that having a good night’s sleep is a fundamental part of leading a healthy life – it’s important to get it right.”
The survey was conducted on behalf of Southern Cross who are looking into the living habits of Kiwis as part of its sponsorship of new TVNZ show Kiwi Living.
“We want to get Kiwis motivated and making small changes that pay long term dividends with their health and wellbeing,” says Tynan.
Note: The survey into New Zealanders’ Approach to Kiwi Living was conducted by TNS. The survey of 1650 New Zealanders aged over 18 was carried out in June 2015.
Below are results of the survey broken into age-groups and regions.
|
|
Total |
Male |
Female |
Under 40 |
40 and over |
Under 30 |
30 to 39 |
40 to 49 |
Over 50 |
|
Which of the following best applies to you? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'd rather have a great night out and less sleep |
20% |
25% |
16% |
26% |
15% |
30% |
21% |
19% |
14% |
|
I'd rather get a full night's sleep |
80% |
75% |
84% |
74% |
85% |
70% |
79% |
81% |
86% |
|
Total |
1650 |
825 |
825 |
563 |
1087 |
292 |
271 |
307 |
780 |
|
How often do you feel tired or fatigued when you wake up? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Nearly every day |
27% |
21% |
33% |
34% |
22% |
38% |
26% |
31% |
18% |
|
3-4 times a week |
17% |
16% |
18% |
20% |
15% |
18% |
23% |
20% |
12% |
|
1-2 times a week |
22% |
24% |
21% |
21% |
23% |
21% |
21% |
21% |
24% |
|
1-2 times a month |
16% |
18% |
15% |
13% |
19% |
11% |
17% |
14% |
21% |
|
Never or nearly never |
13% |
16% |
10% |
5% |
18% |
6% |
5% |
9% |
22% |
|
Rather not say |
4% |
6% |
3% |
7% |
3% |
6% |
8% |
5% |
2% |
|
Total |
1650 |
825 |
825 |
563 |
1087 |
292 |
271 |
307 |
780 |
|
How often do you feel tired, fatigued or not up to par? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Nearly every day |
24% |
20% |
29% |
31% |
20% |
36% |
23% |
28% |
16% |
|
3-4 times a week |
19% |
17% |
20% |
24% |
15% |
23% |
27% |
18% |
13% |
|
1-2 times a week |
23% |
25% |
22% |
23% |
24% |
22% |
24% |
25% |
23% |
|
1-2 times a month |
22% |
24% |
20% |
15% |
27% |
12% |
21% |
19% |
30% |
|
Never or nearly never |
11% |
14% |
9% |
7% |
15% |
7% |
6% |
9% |
17% |
|
Total |
1583 |
779 |
804 |
528 |
1055 |
273 |
255 |
296 |
759 |
|
Have you ever nodded off or fallen asleep while driving a vehicle? |
|
|
|||||||
|
Yes |
11% |
14% |
8% |
8% |
13% |
6% |
13% |
14% |
13% |
|
No |
85% |
81% |
89% |
86% |
84% |
90% |
80% |
81% |
85% |
|
Rather not say |
4% |
6% |
3% |
6% |
3% |
5% |
7% |
5% |
2% |
|
Total |
1650 |
825 |
825 |
563 |
1087 |
292 |
271 |
307 |
780 |
|
Which of the following do you typically do during the hour before sleeping? |
|
|
|||||||
|
Watch TV or DVDs |
57% |
57% |
57% |
53% |
60% |
53% |
54% |
61% |
60% |
|
Listen to the radio |
10% |
12% |
8% |
9% |
11% |
9% |
8% |
6% |
13% |
|
Use a laptop/smartphone/tablet/iPad |
52% |
50% |
53% |
71% |
37% |
74% |
67% |
46% |
32% |
|
Read books/magazines |
32% |
25% |
39% |
28% |
35% |
27% |
30% |
30% |
38% |
|
Other (please specify) |
4% |
5% |
4% |
3% |
6% |
2% |
4% |
4% |
6% |
|
Rather not say |
5% |
7% |
3% |
7% |
3% |
7% |
7% |
5% |
2% |
|
Total |
1650 |
825 |
825 |
563 |
1087 |
292 |
271 |
307 |
780 |
|
|
Total |
Auckland |
Wellington |
Chch |
Hamilton |
Tauranga |
Dunedin |
Rest of NZ |
|
Which of the following best applies to you? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'd rather have a great night out and less sleep |
20% |
23% |
24% |
21% |
18% |
18% |
26% |
17% |
|
I'd rather get a full night's sleep |
80% |
77% |
76% |
79% |
82% |
82% |
74% |
83% |
|
Total |
1650 |
300 |
301 |
300 |
150 |
150 |
149 |
300 |
|
How often do you feel tired or fatigued when you wake up? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Nearly every day |
27% |
22% |
26% |
27% |
23% |
26% |
29% |
32% |
|
3-4 times a week |
17% |
20% |
22% |
20% |
14% |
12% |
19% |
13% |
|
1-2 times a week |
22% |
22% |
24% |
23% |
27% |
27% |
25% |
20% |
|
1-2 times a month |
16% |
19% |
16% |
15% |
14% |
12% |
13% |
15% |
|
Never or nearly never |
13% |
12% |
10% |
13% |
13% |
20% |
14% |
13% |
|
Rather not say |
4% |
4% |
2% |
1% |
8% |
4% |
1% |
6% |
|
Total |
1650 |
300 |
301 |
300 |
150 |
150 |
149 |
300 |
|
How often do you feel tired, fatigued or not up to par? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Nearly every day |
24% |
21% |
20% |
24% |
20% |
19% |
24% |
29% |
|
3-4 times a week |
19% |
19% |
24% |
19% |
16% |
17% |
22% |
17% |
|
1-2 times a week |
23% |
23% |
28% |
25% |
30% |
29% |
26% |
21% |
|
1-2 times a month |
22% |
25% |
19% |
20% |
20% |
18% |
18% |
21% |
|
Never or nearly never |
11% |
12% |
10% |
12% |
12% |
18% |
10% |
11% |
|
Total |
1583 |
286 |
293 |
291 |
138 |
143 |
147 |
285 |
|
Have you ever nodded off or fallen asleep while driving a vehicle? |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Yes |
11% |
13% |
8% |
10% |
11% |
7% |
9% |
11% |
|
No |
85% |
82% |
90% |
89% |
84% |
90% |
88% |
84% |
|
Rather not say |
4% |
4% |
2% |
1% |
5% |
3% |
3% |
5% |
|
Total |
1650 |
300 |
301 |
300 |
150 |
150 |
149 |
300 |
|
Which of the following do you typically do during the hour before sleeping? |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Watch TV or DVDs |
57% |
54% |
58% |
60% |
56% |
64% |
61% |
59% |
|
Listen to the radio |
10% |
13% |
11% |
7% |
7% |
7% |
13% |
9% |
|
Use a laptop/smartphone/tablet/iPad |
52% |
53% |
60% |
50% |
50% |
46% |
55% |
49% |
|
Read books/magazines |
32% |
33% |
38% |
32% |
22% |
36% |
36% |
31% |
|
Other (please specify) |
4% |
3% |
6% |
5% |
4% |
5% |
7% |
5% |
|
Rather not say |
5% |
4% |
1% |
2% |
5% |
5% |
2% |
7% |
|
Total |
1650 |
300 |
301 |
300 |
150 |
150 |
149 |
300 |
