Data and Statistics

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

Population: Adults aged 18 years and older in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Core Question: 2008–2010 (subsequently part of rotating core, alternate years)

• During the past 30 days, for about how many days have you felt you did not get enough rest or sleep? (number of days)

Previously asked as part of Healthy Days/Quality of Life Modules: 1995 (8 states), 1998 (13 states), 2000 (23 states), 2001 (13 states), 2002 (21 states), 2004 (4 states), 2006 (4 states).

Optional Sleep Module: Started 2009

• On average, how many hours of sleep do you get in a 24-hour period?
• Do you snore?
• During the past 30 days, for about how many days did you find yourself unintentionally falling asleep during the day?
• During the past 30 days, have you ever nodded off or fallen asleep, even just for a brief moment, while driving?

BRFSS Survey Data

BRFSS Questionnaires

 

Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

Population: High-school students Sleep question asked in 2007 and 2009:

• On an average school night, how many of hours of sleep do you get?

National YRBS Data Files and Documentation

 

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

Population: Adults have been asked the following question since 2004:

• On average, how many hours of sleep do you get in a 24-hour period?

NHIS Questionnaires, Datasets, and Related Documentation

 

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

Eligible Sample: Participants 16 years of age and older were eligible for the Sleep Disorders questionnaire.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration: The questions on sleep disorders were administered in the home, using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing-CAPI system, as part of the survey participant household interview.

Years: 2005–2006, 2007–2008, 2009–2010

NHANES Questionnaires, Datasets, and Related Documentation

Sleep Disorders Questionnaire [PDF-193kb]

 

Map of Sleep Insufficiency:

The map below depicts age-adjusted* percentage of adults who reported 30 days of insufficient rest or sleep^† during the preceding 30 days. Data is from the 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States.^‡

* Age adjusted to 2000 projected U.S. population.
† Determined by response to the question, "During the past 30 days, for about how many days have you felt you did not get enough rest or sleep?"
‡ Includes the 50 states, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.