News

Shocking sleep stats

Thursday , 24 September 2015 by Aimee Bourke

With daylight saving starting this weekend, already sleep-deprived New Zealanders are going to struggle when they lose an hour.

A Southern Cross Healthcare Group survey into the living habits of Kiwis has revealed that almost a quarter of us already feel tired or fatigued every day, with this rising to 36% among people under 30.

The survey also showed that 80% of New Zealanders would rather have a full night’s sleep than a big night out.

Worse still, it revealed that one in ten (11%) New Zealanders have fallen asleep at the wheel.

Southern Cross Health Society CEO Peter Tynan says the survey showed that New Zealanders are desperate for sleep.

“A US National Health Interview Survey linked sleep problems to obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, the risk of stroke, diabetes and depression – getting a good night’s sleep is a building block of a healthy lifestyle,” says Tynan.

“Interestingly our research also showed that over half of us are using an electronic device an hour before bed. So a big part of the problem could be put down to our pre-sleep routine.”

Following good bedtime habits – not drinking caffeine or exercising too close to bedtime, going to bed and getting up at the same time, and not having any loud external stimuli – can help the brain relax and go towards getting a good night’s sleep.

“In our lifetime we spend on average 26 years sleeping, and we all know that having a good night’s sleep is a fundamental part of leading a healthy life – it’s important to get it right.”

The survey was conducted on behalf of Southern Cross who are looking into the living habits of Kiwis as part of its sponsorship of new TVNZ show Kiwi Living.

“We want to get Kiwis motivated and making small changes that pay long term dividends with their health and wellbeing,” says Tynan.

Note: The survey into New Zealanders’ Approach to Kiwi Living was conducted by TNS. The survey of 1650 New Zealanders aged over 18 was carried out in June 2015.

Below are results of the survey broken into age-groups and regions.

 

Total

Male

Female

Under 40

40 and over

Under 30

30 to 39

40 to 49

Over 50

Which of the following best applies to you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd rather have a great night out and less sleep

20%

25%

16%

26%

15%

30%

21%

19%

14%

I'd rather get a full night's sleep

80%

75%

84%

74%

85%

70%

79%

81%

86%

Total

1650

825

825

563

1087

292

271

307

780

How often do you feel tired or fatigued when you wake up?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nearly every day

27%

21%

33%

34%

22%

38%

26%

31%

18%

3-4 times a week

17%

16%

18%

20%

15%

18%

23%

20%

12%

1-2 times a week

22%

24%

21%

21%

23%

21%

21%

21%

24%

1-2 times a month

16%

18%

15%

13%

19%

11%

17%

14%

21%

Never or nearly never

13%

16%

10%

5%

18%

6%

5%

9%

22%

Rather not say

4%

6%

3%

7%

3%

6%

8%

5%

2%

Total

1650

825

825

563

1087

292

271

307

780

How often do you feel tired, fatigued or not up to par?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nearly every day

24%

20%

29%

31%

20%

36%

23%

28%

16%

3-4 times a week

19%

17%

20%

24%

15%

23%

27%

18%

13%

1-2 times a week

23%

25%

22%

23%

24%

22%

24%

25%

23%

1-2 times a month

22%

24%

20%

15%

27%

12%

21%

19%

30%

Never or nearly never

11%

14%

9%

7%

15%

7%

6%

9%

17%

Total

1583

779

804

528

1055

273

255

296

759

Have you ever nodded off or fallen asleep while driving a vehicle?

 

 

Yes

11%

14%

8%

8%

13%

6%

13%

14%

13%

No

85%

81%

89%

86%

84%

90%

80%

81%

85%

Rather not say

4%

6%

3%

6%

3%

5%

7%

5%

2%

Total

1650

825

825

563

1087

292

271

307

780

Which of the following do you typically do during the hour before sleeping?

 

 

Watch TV or DVDs

57%

57%

57%

53%

60%

53%

54%

61%

60%

Listen to the radio

10%

12%

8%

9%

11%

9%

8%

6%

13%

Use a laptop/smartphone/tablet/iPad

52%

50%

53%

71%

37%

74%

67%

46%

32%

Read books/magazines

32%

25%

39%

28%

35%

27%

30%

30%

38%

Other (please specify)

4%

5%

4%

3%

6%

2%

4%

4%

6%

Rather not say

5%

7%

3%

7%

3%

7%

7%

5%

2%

Total

1650

825

825

563

1087

292

271

307

780

 

 

Total

Auckland

Wellington

Chch

Hamilton

Tauranga

Dunedin

Rest of NZ

Which of the following best applies to you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd rather have a great night out and less sleep

20%

23%

24%

21%

18%

18%

26%

17%

I'd rather get a full night's sleep

80%

77%

76%

79%

82%

82%

74%

83%

Total

1650

300

301

300

150

150

149

300

How often do you feel tired or fatigued when you wake up?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nearly every day

27%

22%

26%

27%

23%

26%

29%

32%

3-4 times a week

17%

20%

22%

20%

14%

12%

19%

13%

1-2 times a week

22%

22%

24%

23%

27%

27%

25%

20%

1-2 times a month

16%

19%

16%

15%

14%

12%

13%

15%

Never or nearly never

13%

12%

10%

13%

13%

20%

14%

13%

Rather not say

4%

4%

2%

1%

8%

4%

1%

6%

Total

1650

300

301

300

150

150

149

300

How often do you feel tired, fatigued or not up to par?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nearly every day

24%

21%

20%

24%

20%

19%

24%

29%

3-4 times a week

19%

19%

24%

19%

16%

17%

22%

17%

1-2 times a week

23%

23%

28%

25%

30%

29%

26%

21%

1-2 times a month

22%

25%

19%

20%

20%

18%

18%

21%

Never or nearly never

11%

12%

10%

12%

12%

18%

10%

11%

Total

1583

286

293

291

138

143

147

285

Have you ever nodded off or fallen asleep while driving a vehicle?

 

 

 

 

 

Yes

11%

13%

8%

10%

11%

7%

9%

11%

No

85%

82%

90%

89%

84%

90%

88%

84%

Rather not say

4%

4%

2%

1%

5%

3%

3%

5%

Total

1650

300

301

300

150

150

149

300

Which of the following do you typically do during the hour before sleeping?

 

 

 

 

Watch TV or DVDs

57%

54%

58%

60%

56%

64%

61%

59%

Listen to the radio

10%

13%

11%

7%

7%

7%

13%

9%

Use a laptop/smartphone/tablet/iPad

52%

53%

60%

50%

50%

46%

55%

49%

Read books/magazines

32%

33%

38%

32%

22%

36%

36%

31%

Other (please specify)

4%

3%

6%

5%

4%

5%

7%

5%

Rather not say

5%

4%

1%

2%

5%

5%

2%

7%

Total

1650

300

301

300

150

150

149

300