0293 Sleep Health in America: Update from the National Sleep Foundation’s 2022 Sleep Health Index®

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Sleep is a crucial measure of health and wellbeing. Individuals with good sleep health tend to have better physical, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning than individuals with poor sleep health. The National Sleep Foundation developed the Sleep Health Index® (SHI) in 2016 as a means to monitor the sleep health of the general population. Since its inception, the National Sleep Foundation has administered the SHI annually to a representative sample of the US population. This study reports on the 2022 SHI and examines US population trends in sleep health from 2019 through 2022. Methods The SHI is a valid, reliable measure consisting of 16 questions related to the three discrete constructs of sleep duration, sleep quality, and disordered sleep. In 2022, the SHI was administered to a nationally representative, random sample of 1,042 Americans via the probability-based Ipsos KnowledgePanel®, in which panelists complete surveys online in English or Spanish. Results have a margin of sampling error of 3.2 points. We examined sleep health trends from 2019 through 2022 and examined whether sleep health in 2022 differed from previous years. Group differences in sleep health were also investigated. Results Americans’ average SHI score in 2022 was 75 (on a 0–100 scale), which is consistent with SHI scores observed in previous years. The SHI total score was statistically highest among college graduates, Hispanic adults, and people with household incomes of $100,000+ a year and statistically lowest among those with household incomes less than $50,000. Despite stable SHI total scores, there were statistically significant declines in both average weekday sleep scores (76 in 2021 to 71 in 2022) and in sleep deficit scores (86 in 2021 to 82 in 2022), which are based on the difference between weekday sleep and the amount of sleep respondents say they need to be well-rested and feel their best. Conclusion While overall sleep health remained stable, weekday sleep duration and sleep deficit worsened considerably as pandemic-related restrictions came to an end. The sociocultural and political contexts in which sleep health occurs, as well as associated features, like mental and physical health, deserve further consideration. Support (if any)