The majority of New Zealanders say they feel sad or depressed as a result of missing out on sleep.
A new survey, commissioned by sleep support company Tru2U, found women are affected the most, with 65% saying they struggle to feel happy after a disappointing snooze, compared to just over half (54%) of men.
The research found most Kiwis are not getting enough shuteye to operate at their peak physical or mental capacity, with 58% believing they don’t get enough sleep or feel well rested.
It also revealed more than half (56%) struggle to get to sleep at night or have a family member who is left counting sheep every evening.
According to the survey, Generation Y are more likely to struggle with sleep than any other age group, with 73% of those aged 18-24 years old saying they don’t feel well rested, and more than two-thirds (78%) feeling sad or depressed because they haven’t had enough kip.
Nearly three-quarters of Kiwis (72%) get between 5 and 7 hours of sleep every night, with just 24% saying they get 8 hours or more.
“Many scientific studies have shown that a lack of quality sleep can cause mood swings, and particularly make people feel irritable, vulnerable to stress, and more susceptible to negative thinking,” says Tru2u’s Simon Musgrave, in a release. “This research shows that for New Zealanders, this is definitely true—and even more so for Kiwi women, who are struggling to maintain a positive mood and feeling really low if they don’t get a good night’s sleep.”
