A wide variety of problems faced by 67 percent of American women can be traced to nothing more than a lack of sleep.
The National Sleep Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., recently released its annual poll. According to the NSF Web site, the 2007 poll found “women’s lack of sleep affects virtually every aspect of their time-pressed lives.”
The poll classified women based on lifestyle and biological development. It reported those who sleep the least are single, working women, which are common characteristics of college students.
Hope McPhatter, Wellness Education coordinator, said in an e-mail that sleep-related problems are linked to many other issues.
“I think insufficient sleep is a common problem at all universities due to the drive of students to make the best grades while also participating in extracurricular activities and holding down jobs,” McPhatter said.
The NSF poll corroborates this statement. It found women between the ages of 18 and 24 are “significantly more likely” to work overnight or other non-traditional hours.
The poll shows a connection between lack of sleep and quality of life. Sleep problems are often related to poor moods, including feelings of unhappiness or hopelessness. According to the poll, sleeplessness is also associated with poor health and obesity.
In a March 6 news release, Kathryn Lee, member of the NSF poll task force, said lifestyle decisions are part of the problem.
“Women tend to compromise the most important aspects of good health – diet, exercise and sleep – when trying to juggle the day’s ongoing responsibilities,” Lee said. “Foregoing healthy lifestyle habits in favor of more time during the day is not the solution.”
Using caffeinated beverages to counteract sleepiness, though “very likely” among 47 percent of single, working women, is another unhealthy solution.
“Heavy caffeine use is the most common cause of fatigue,” McPhatter said. “It’s highly addictive and withdrawal symptoms can be a painful experience.”
McPhatter said caffeine addiction is typically found in people who drink three or more caffeinated drinks per day, a lower amount than the poll associates with nearly half of single, working women.
“I do usually drink coffee to get a little caffeine boost,” said Catherine Brannan, elementary education sophomore.
Brannan said she typically sleeps five or six hours each night and often feels tired during the day. Despite knowing a lack of sleep may impair her academic performance, she said her school work often dictates her sleep schedule.
Dara Pierce, elementary education sophomore, said she gets about five hours of sleep each night. She said if she becomes tired in the afternoon, she will eat cookies rather than drink a caffeinated beverage for an energy boost.
“It’s school and work that really affects how much sleep I get,” Pierce said. “By the time I’ve done all that I don’t have much time to sleep.”
The NSF suggests a few tips to decrease the frequency of sleep problems: maintaining a regular bedtime routine and avoiding exercise, caffeinated drinks or alcohol in the hours before bedtime. Women with newborns should consider arranging overnight childcare from family and friends.
“My advice to students is to get enough sleep nightly before a lack of it becomes a problem,” McPhatter said. “Prevention is the key to sleep-related problems.”
—–Contact Daniel McBride at [email protected]