Sleep needs are shaped by culture
A recent study analysed sleep and health data from nearly 5000 individuals across 20 countries. It found that optimal sleep duration varies significantly between cultures. And more surprisingly they also found that people in countries where sleep is shorter don’t necessarily suffer worse health outcomes.
“Despite the common advice to get eight hours of sleep, our findings suggest that sleep recommendations need to be adjusted based on cultural norms. There is no one-size-fits-all amount of sleep that works for everyone,” said Dr. Steven Heine, the study’s senior author.
What the data says
The graph clearly illustrates just how varied average sleep duration is around the world. Japan, for instance, logs the lowest average at 6 hours and 18 minutes, while France tops the chart at 7 hours and 52 minutes. Canada represents the middle with 7 hours and 27 minutes.
Despite these differences, researchers found no evidence that shorter average sleep times translated to worse health across nations. Instead, people who slept closer to their culture’s norm reported better overall health, regardless of whether that norm was longer or shorter than the global average.
This key insight reframes how we should think about sleep. It’s not just about getting more. it’s about getting the right amount for your context.
A cultural benchmark for health
Dr. Christine Ou, study’s lead author explained, “This suggests that the ideal amount of sleep is the amount that matches what is considered appropriate sleep in one’s cultural context.”
Interestingly, in all 20 countries studied, people were sleeping at least one hour less than what was considered culturally ideal. This gap may help explain some of the modern sleep-related health challenges and underlines the need for culturally tailored public health guidelines.
What this means for public health
Traditionally, global sleep recommendations have taken a one-size-fits-all approach, 8 hours for adults, more for children and teens. But this research suggests such guidelines could be more effective if adapted to the cultural sleep norms of specific populations.
“Sleep needs are flexible and shaped by cultural expectations,” the study concludes. “People from cultures with shorter sleep durations do not suffer from more negative health outcomes.”
So, the next time someone tells you to aim for 8 hours, consider where you live, and what’s considered normal there. You might find that sleeping 7 hours is just right for you.
