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QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged >18 Years* Who Reported an Average of <6 Hours of Sleep per 24-Hour Period, by Sex and Age Group --- National Health Interview Survey, United States, 1985 and 2006§

Percentage of Adults Aged greater than equal to 18 Years* Who Reported an Average
of less than equal to 6 Hours of Sleep† per 24-Hour Period, by Sex and Age Group —
National Health Interview Survey, United States, 1985 and 2006§

* N = 23,679 (10,457 men and 13,222 women).

Based on response to the following question: "On average, how many hours of sleep do you get in a 24-hour period?" Respondents could indicate getting 1 to 24 hours of sleep.

§ Estimates were based on household interviews of a sample of the noninstitutionalized, U.S. civilian population.

From 1985 to 2006, the percentage of men and women who reported an average of <6 hours of sleep per 24-hour period increased in all age groups. In 2006, for both men and women, the percentage of respondents reporting <6 hours of sleep per 24-hour period was highest among those aged 30--44 years and 45--64 years. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7--9 hours of sleep per 24-hour period for adults (additional information available at http://www.sleepfoundation.org).

SOURCES: Schoenborn CA. Health habits of U.S. adults, 1985: the "Alameda 7" revisited. Public Health Rep 1986;101:571--80.

Unpublished estimates from the 2006 National Health Interview Survey. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.

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Date last reviewed: 2/27/2008

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