Study: Most Americans Need More Sleep
2024-04-30
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1Less than half of Americans say they are getting enough sleep, according to a recent opinion study by the Gallup organization.
2The poll found that 57 percent of Americans say they would feel better if they could get more sleep.
3Only 42 percent say they are getting as much sleep as they need.
4Gallup carried out the same kind of study in 2013.
5That time, the results were different.
6Fifty-six percent said they got enough sleep, while 43 percent said they did not get enough sleep.
7Women under the age of 50 were the most likely to report they are not getting enough rest.
8Only 27 percent of women in that group said they usually get all the sleep they need.
9The poll also asked people to report how many hours of sleep they usually get each night.
10Only 26 percent said they got eight or more hours.
11Many sleep experts say adults should aim for eight hours of sleep a night.
12Just over half of the respondents reported getting between six and seven hours of sleep a night.
13And 20 percent said they got five hours or less.
14That number increased from 2013, when 14 percent of respondents reported getting five hours or less.
15Justine Broughal is a self-employed event planner with two small children.
16She is 31 years old. Her 4-month-old son still wakes up throughout the night.
17After her 3-year-old daughter goes to bed, she still needs to do some work in the house.
18That makes it difficult for her to get the sleep she needs.
19"I really treasure being able to spend time with (my children)," Broughal says.
20However, she added that it can reduce the amount of time for her to rest and take care of herself.
21Claude Fischer is a professor of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley.
22He said that American culture has valued hard work and productivity since the first European immigrants arrived.
23He added that the religious beliefs of some groups connected hard work with approval from God.
24Working hard, he said, "has been a core part of American culture for centuries."
25Some Americans also say their busy workdays make them want to stay up late.
26After a long day of work, spending time at night on social media or watching television can help them lower stress or have some time to themselves.
27But this reduces the number of hours they can sleep.
28Liz Meshel has experienced this.
29The 30-year-old American is temporarily living and doing research in Bulgaria.
30But she also works a part-time job on U.S. hours to help pay her bills.
31That means she sometimes works until 10 at night local time.
32When it is close to her bedtime, she said she thinks about the time she did not have for herself during the day.
33So, she decides to watch television and look at social media instead of getting to sleep earlier.
34That, Meshel said, "will always make the problem worse."
35I'm Andrew Smith.
1Less than half of Americans say they are getting enough sleep, according to a recent opinion study by the Gallup organization. 2The poll found that 57 percent of Americans say they would feel better if they could get more sleep. Only 42 percent say they are getting as much sleep as they need. 3Gallup carried out the same kind of study in 2013. That time, the results were different. Fifty-six percent said they got enough sleep, while 43 percent said they did not get enough sleep. 4Women under the age of 50 were the most likely to report they are not getting enough rest. Only 27 percent of women in that group said they usually get all the sleep they need. 5The poll also asked people to report how many hours of sleep they usually get each night. Only 26 percent said they got eight or more hours. Many sleep experts say adults should aim for eight hours of sleep a night. 6Just over half of the respondents reported getting between six and seven hours of sleep a night. And 20 percent said they got five hours or less. That number increased from 2013, when 14 percent of respondents reported getting five hours or less. 7Justine Broughal is a self-employed event planner with two small children. She is 31 years old. Her 4-month-old son still wakes up throughout the night. After her 3-year-old daughter goes to bed, she still needs to do some work in the house. That makes it difficult for her to get the sleep she needs. 8"I really treasure being able to spend time with (my children)," Broughal says. However, she added that it can reduce the amount of time for her to rest and take care of herself. 9Claude Fischer is a professor of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. He said that American culture has valued hard work and productivity since the first European immigrants arrived. He added that the religious beliefs of some groups connected hard work with approval from God. 10Working hard, he said, "has been a core part of American culture for centuries." 11Late-night relaxing 12Some Americans also say their busy workdays make them want to stay up late. After a long day of work, spending time at night on social media or watching television can help them lower stress or have some time to themselves. But this reduces the number of hours they can sleep. 13Liz Meshel has experienced this. The 30-year-old American is temporarily living and doing research in Bulgaria. But she also works a part-time job on U.S. hours to help pay her bills. That means she sometimes works until 10 at night local time. 14When it is close to her bedtime, she said she thinks about the time she did not have for herself during the day. So, she decides to watch television and look at social media instead of getting to sleep earlier. 15That, Meshel said, "will always make the problem worse." 16I'm Andrew Smith. 17Deepti Hajela and Linley Sanders wrote this story for The Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English. 18_____________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20respondent -n. a person who answers one or more questions 21treasure -v. to value highly 22sociology -n. the study of society or the way it is organized 23core -n. the center or most important part of something