TY - JOUR
T1 - Insufficient sleep in the Danish adult population
T2 - A 10-year trend analysis
AU - Ahrensberg, Hannah
AU - Møller, Sofie Rossen
AU - Christensen, Anne Illemann
AU - Andersen, Susan
AU - Petersen, Christina Bjørk
PY - 2025/4/22
Y1 - 2025/4/22
N2 - ObjectivesTo examine (1) trends in insufficient sleep among adults in Denmark from 2013 to 2023; (2) sociodemographic characteristics associated with insufficient sleep; and (3) self-reported reasons for insufficient sleep. MethodsData were derived from the nationally representative Danish Health and Morbidity Surveys conducted in 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2023. In each wave 25,000 individuals aged 16 years or older were invited to participate (response proportions: 40%-60%). Insufficient sleep was measured as never or almost never getting enough sleep to feel well-rested. ResultsThe proportions reporting insufficient sleep increased from 10.3% in 2013 to 15.9% in 2023. Consistently, a higher proportion was observed among women, and among the younger age groups (age 16-44 years). A clear social gradient was observed, with higher odds of insufficient sleep among those with <10 years education (OR 2.13, 95% CI: 1.91; 2.37) compared to those with ≥15 years of education. Self-reported reasons for insufficient sleep varied slightly across survey waves. In 2023, primary reasons included thoughts and worries related to family or personal matters (44.4%) and getting to bed too late due to entertainment from digital devices (35.5%). However, the specific reasons varied by sex and age groups. ConclusionsThe proportion of adults reporting insufficient sleep has increased substantially over the past decade. Clear and consistent sex and age differences, as well as social inequalities in insufficient sleep in all waves indicate the need for targeted initiatives promoting sleep health.
AB - ObjectivesTo examine (1) trends in insufficient sleep among adults in Denmark from 2013 to 2023; (2) sociodemographic characteristics associated with insufficient sleep; and (3) self-reported reasons for insufficient sleep. MethodsData were derived from the nationally representative Danish Health and Morbidity Surveys conducted in 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2023. In each wave 25,000 individuals aged 16 years or older were invited to participate (response proportions: 40%-60%). Insufficient sleep was measured as never or almost never getting enough sleep to feel well-rested. ResultsThe proportions reporting insufficient sleep increased from 10.3% in 2013 to 15.9% in 2023. Consistently, a higher proportion was observed among women, and among the younger age groups (age 16-44 years). A clear social gradient was observed, with higher odds of insufficient sleep among those with <10 years education (OR 2.13, 95% CI: 1.91; 2.37) compared to those with ≥15 years of education. Self-reported reasons for insufficient sleep varied slightly across survey waves. In 2023, primary reasons included thoughts and worries related to family or personal matters (44.4%) and getting to bed too late due to entertainment from digital devices (35.5%). However, the specific reasons varied by sex and age groups. ConclusionsThe proportion of adults reporting insufficient sleep has increased substantially over the past decade. Clear and consistent sex and age differences, as well as social inequalities in insufficient sleep in all waves indicate the need for targeted initiatives promoting sleep health.
KW - Cross-sectional study
KW - Insufficient sleep
KW - Questionnaire survey
KW - Social inequality
KW - Sociodemographic characterization
KW - Time trends
U2 - 10.1016/j.sleh.2025.03.005
DO - 10.1016/j.sleh.2025.03.005
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 40268633
AN - SCOPUS:105003174074
SN - 2352-7218
JO - Sleep Health
JF - Sleep Health
ER -