Optimum sleep time, depending on the country

Some studies have already shown that a shorter sleep time is associated with chronic health problems and mental disorders. “The strong link between the duration of sleep and health raises the question of whether people from countries with a shorter sleeping time can have a poorer health status than from countries where it slept longer,” wrote the research team around Steven Heine, professor of social and cultural psychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver (Canada).

To clarify this question, you have analyzed the results of 14 previous studies from 71 countries, including Austria, over the average national sleep duration and compared to the average national health values. They also asked 5000 people from 20 countries about their sleep time and health.

Austrians sleep seven to eight hours a night
Austrians sleep on average seven to eight hours a night. In Japan people sleep the shortest six hours and 18 minutes. The average duration in France with seven hours and 52 minutes and Canada with seven hours and 27 minutes.

There were no significant differences between these countries. Unlike earlier studies, the researchers found no evidence that a shorter sleep time was associated with a poorer health status. What was shown on the other hand showed people whose sleep duration corresponds to the respective national average, are usually healthier.

“Our results indicate that sleep recommendations must be adapted to cultural standards,” said Heine. There is no general sleep time that applies to everyone.