Sleep is one of the most important factors in contributing to overall health and wellbeing – but are Brits getting enough of it?
Chemist4U have updated their highly renowned sleep report for 2022 and have surveyed 2,000 adults to find out more about the nation’s sleeping habits.
The report reveals what affects their sleep (including the pandemic), what helps them get off to sleep as well as gender and regional breakdowns.
You can view the full study here: https://www.chemist-4-u.com/sleep-study/
How people feel the pandemic has affected their sleep
| Survey Response | All | Male | Female |
| I get more sleep on average as a result of the pandemic | 15.93% | 18.56% | 13.47% |
| I get less sleep on average as a result of the pandemic | 26.67% | 25.15% | 28.10% |
| I get the same amount of sleep on average | 57.39% | 56.29% | 58.43% |
- More men than women get more sleep on average as a result of the pandemic (18.56% vs 13.47%)
- More women than men are getting less sleep as a result of the pandemic (28.10% vs 25.15%)
9 most common causes of sleep related arguments
| Rank | Cause of sleep related arguments | All | Male | Female |
| 1 | Snoring | 52.61% | 44.44% | 58.87% |
| 2 | Tossing and turning | 27.31% | 25.00% | 29.08% |
| 3 | Time partner goes to sleep | 25.30% | 27.78% | 23.40% |
| 4 | Taking the duvet cover | 21.29% | 22.22% | 20.57% |
| 5 | Taking up too much room in the bed | 17.67% | 14.81% | 19.86% |
| 6 | Being on a phone/screen late at night | 15.26% | 13.89% | 16.31% |
| 7 | Sleep talking | 12.85% | 12.96% | 12.77% |
| 8 | Eating in bed | 9.64% | 9.26% | 9.93% |
| 9 | Side of the bed you’re sleeping on | 5.62% | 6.48% | 4.96% |
- The study revealed that people who are married or in a relationship people get more sleep on average than single people: 6.16 vs 6.01
- Unsurprisingly for anyone who has slept next to someone who snores, the survey revealed that snoring was the most common cause of sleep related arguments, with women citing it as a cause more often than men (58.87% vs 44.44%)
- 100% of respondents who work in legal listed ‘tossing and turning’ as a reason they argue with their spouse about sleeping
Other key findings from the report:
- The most common barrier to sleep is stress and anxiety, with 28% of respondents citing this as a top factor
- 1 in 5 people claimed that ‘nothing keeps them up at night’
- Northern Ireland are the most stressed sleepers – 43.10% of respondents said stress and anxiety are one of the top factors keeping them up at night
- West Midlands are the most chilled – only 21.23% of respondents said stress and anxiety were one of the top factors keeping them up at night
James O’Loan, Pharmacist and CEO at Chemist4U comments:
“Not getting enough sleep won’t just make you feel grumpy or groggy in the morning, but it can have more serious side effects over time. The correlations between a lack of sleep and your concentration, memory and mood are well known, but you could also be leaving yourself vulnerable to conditions like type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease if you neglect your nightly rest.
The world has become a more stressful place in recent years, with the pandemic, rising household bills, and world events keeping many of us up at night. If this sounds familiar, you may want to consider speaking to your doctor or pharmacist about sleep aids, which can be used in the short term to help you get enough sleep and fall back into a regular sleep pattern.”
