Which population groups are more likely to get too little sleep? Results of the ‘German Health Update’ (GEDA 2023)

Short sleep duration on weekdays affects approximately 39.6% of the German adult population.

• Short sleep duration was defined as less than seven hours per night over the past four weeks.
• Data were drawn from GEDA 2023, a Germany-wide, representative telephone survey of adults conducted as part of the Health Monitoring Programme.
• The survey was conducted at the national level and is described as representative of the German adult population.

Men are more likely than women to experience short sleep duration on weekdays.

• The sex difference in short sleep duration was observed across the adult population.
• Men aged 45 to 64 years showed the highest proportion of short sleep duration at 53.0%.
• The elevated prevalence in middle-aged men was specifically highlighted as a notable subgroup finding.

Short sleep duration is significantly lower at weekends compared to weekdays, particularly among younger adults aged 18 to 29 years.

• The reduction in short sleep duration at weekends was especially pronounced among the 18- to 29-year-old age group.
• This pattern suggests that younger adults may be compensating for or recovering from weekday sleep deficits on weekends.
• The difference between weekday and weekend sleep duration was described as significant in this age group.

Among adults aged 65 years and older, there are barely any differences in short sleep duration between weekdays and weekends.

• Unlike younger age groups, older adults (65+) showed a consistent pattern of short sleep duration regardless of the day of the week.
• This finding suggests that sleep patterns in older adults are less influenced by work schedules or social factors tied to the working week.
• The absence of a weekday-weekend difference in this group contrasts markedly with patterns seen in younger age groups.

The authors conclude that both individual and societal preventive measures are needed to address the high public health relevance of short sleep duration.

• Short sleep duration is described as associated with an increased health risk.
• The significant proportion of the population affected is stated to underline the 'high public health relevance of this issue.'
• The authors call for addressing short sleep through measures at both the individual and societal levels to promote healthy sleep patterns.