Americans from different ethnic groups have different customs and problems when it comes to sleep.
This was determined by scientists involved in the Alabama University Sleep Research Project, led by Professor Kenneth Lichstein. They conducted surveys among approximately XNUMX Americans, in which – in addition to numerous questions about sleep and related activities, habits or health problems – there was also a request to define the ethnic belonging of the respondent to one of four categories: blacks, whites, Latin Americans and Asians.
There is enough research to suggest that there may be ethnic differences in sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea, as well as differences in the quantity and quality of sleep or the health consequences of such disorders, explains Professor Lichstein, quoted by Eurekalert.
As for the length of sleep, the discrepancies were small: from 6 hours to and 14 minutes among blacks to 6 hours. and 52 min. in white Americans. The former most often suffered from sleep apnea, while the latter from insomnia. On the other hand, Asians reported getting good sleep at least a couple of times a week.
From the survey, scientists found out, among other things, what representatives of each of the four groups do in the last hour before falling asleep. It was striking how busy people were in the hour before going to bed. I have never seen such data, notes Professor Lichstein.
Among blacks, as much as 70 percent. prayed or took part in some religious rite before going to bed. About 40 percent. Latinos were doing some household chores at the time. The Asians spent twice as much time in front of the computer as the three other groups. Although most interviewees watched television in the evenings, this activity was the least popular among Asians (52% of respondents did it), and the most popular among black people (75%).
10 percent each Latinos and black Americans had sex every night before bed; among whites the proportion was 4%, and among Asians only 1%.
Fatigue was not the only problem – financial and health concerns also took a toll on the sleep quality of subjects, especially blacks and Latinos. Martica Hall, professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, quoted on Eurekalert, advises: If you can’t fall asleep but just lie down and worried, make a note to think about these things the next morning so you can take those thoughts away. at bedtime. (PAP)