"On average, the French sleep 6 hours 50 minutes on weekdays and 7 hours 48 minutes on weekends," Less than a year ago, according to the latest annual survey conducted by the polling firm Opinionway for the INSV (National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance) and the Vinci Autoroutes Foundation among a thousand French people aged 18 to 65, representative of the population. A quarter of those surveyed said they sleep less than 6 hours a night, and more than half reported waking up tired. More than a third of French people (38%) also reported sleep disorders, with insomnia being the most common.
Ahead of the 26th Sleep Day which it organizes on Friday, the INSV reminds us that impaired sleep can harm physical and mental health, and points to the impact of lifestyles that disrupt biological rhythms and harmful factors (light, noise, heat, etc.).
Nearly one in five French people also say they work nights or irregular or shift work.
Lack of exposure to natural light during the day (71% of respondents spend less than one hour a day outside on weekdays) and overexposure to artificial light in the evening (58% sleep with a smartphone on in the bedroom) thus contribute to disrupting the internal clock.
Nearly one in five French people also say they work nights or irregular or shift work, a situation concerning "more often the lower classes, women and young adults", note from the INSV.
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Nighttime disturbances also have an impact: noise is the top concern for more than a third of French people (36%). Heat is an increasingly significant problem (81% report that heat waves have disrupted their sleep).
"Sleep is both a symptom and an aggravating factor in health problems."
However, inequalities exist among the French population regarding sleep, often overlapping with health, social, and geographical inequalities. For example, chronic illnesses increase the risk of sleep disorders, as does being female. And people living in apartments or in cities are more exposed to noise pollution or heat waves.
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As "Sleep is both a symptom and an aggravating factor in health problems," "it is essential to adopt a comprehensive approach that goes beyond individual care," Professor Jean-Arthur Micoulaud-Franchi, president of the INSV's scientific council, argues in the press release. For World Sleep Day, more than 60 specialized centers and facilities will open to the public.
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