What’s a healthy amount of sleep? Research shows it differs from one country to another

A recent study conducted by the University of British Columbia has shed light on the fact that the optimal amount of sleep needed for good health varies across different cultures. The research, which analyzed sleep data and health outcomes from nearly 5,000 individuals in 20 countries, challenges the notion that everyone requires the same amount of sleep.

Lead by Dr. Steven Heine, a professor of social and cultural psychology at UBC, the study found significant variations in the recommended hours of sleep needed for optimal health in different countries. While the common advice is to get eight hours of sleep, the research suggests that sleep recommendations should be tailored based on cultural norms.

The study revealed that average sleep durations varied widely from country to country. For instance, individuals in Japan averaged six hours and 18 minutes of sleep, while those in France averaged seven hours and 52 minutes. In Canada, the average was seven hours and 27 minutes.

Contrary to previous studies linking shorter sleep durations to poor health outcomes, the UBC and University of Victoria researchers found no evidence that individuals in countries with shorter sleep durations experienced worse health compared to those in longer-sleeping nations.

Lead author Dr. Christine Ou, an assistant professor in the school of nursing at UVic, highlighted the importance of aligning sleep recommendations with cultural norms. The study suggested that the ideal amount of sleep for an individual is one that matches the culturally accepted sleep duration.

Interestingly, the researchers discovered that individuals in all 20 countries were sleeping at least one hour less than what was considered optimal for their culture. This emphasizes the need to consider cultural context when making sleep recommendations to promote better health outcomes.

The study, which included data from North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, underscores the significance of tailoring public health guidelines to fit the cultural norms of different populations. By doing so, it is believed that better health outcomes can be achieved.

For more information on this groundbreaking research, you can access the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences under the title “Healthy sleep durations appear to vary across cultures.”

In conclusion, the study by the University of British Columbia highlights the importance of understanding cultural differences when it comes to sleep recommendations. By taking into account cultural norms, public health guidelines can be customized to promote better health outcomes globally.