May 2024 Update

Gallup Survey: More Than Half of Americans Say They Need More Sleep

According to a recent Gallup poll, for the first time since 2001, 57% of U.S. adults say they aren’t getting enough sleep.  The poll shows that the results of lack of sleep could prove to be harmful in more ways than one, causing stress levels to rise and overall health to be affected.

The decline in sleep and the increase in stress levels are worse for younger women, ages 18-49, than they are for men and older women, as the poll shows this age group had the sharpest increase in frequent stress, with their levels rising 23 points since 2007. This 23 point rise for younger women is compared with an eight-point increase among older women. By contrast, the levels of reported frequent stress have increased three points among younger men and five points among men 50-plus since 2007.

Implications

Americans are sleeping less and are less satisfied with the amount they sleep. Reports of frequently feeling stressed are also on the rise. Gallup polling and other research show a strong connection between sleep, stress, and overall health. Thus, the impact of both of these trends on Americans’ health could be substantial.

The decline in sleep and the increase in stress levels in the U.S. are consistently worse for younger women than for men and older women. This aligns with Gallup’s data on mental health and wellbeing, which show that younger Americans and women seem to be suffering at greater rates. For example, depression is on the rise for women and younger adults, and women and younger Americans are more likely to evaluate their mental health as fair or poor compared with men and older adults. Furthermore, a recent Walton Family Foundation and Gallup study on Generation Z finds that getting enough sleep and relaxation play an important part in happiness among America’s youth. Gen Z who report having enough time to sleep and relax are twice as likely to say they are happy as those who do not get enough sleep or relaxation.