The French managed their sleep better during the 2nd confinement, shows a study - France 24

Paris (AFP)

The sleep of the French was less disturbed during the second confinement linked to Covid-19 than during the first, shows a survey published on Tuesday, which however highlights a high level of anxiety and fatigue.

According to this survey, "the duration of sleep was close during the second confinement to that observed in the normal period", with 7:09 a.m. on weekdays and 7:46 a.m. on weekends, against respectively 7:16 a.m. and 7:52 a.m. before the first confinement, observes Marc Rey, neurologist. and president of the National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance (INSV).

International studies carried out during the first confinements in several countries had noted a slightly increasing overall sleep time but more nocturnal awakenings.

In France, the first confinement, from March 17 to May 11, 2020, was marked by "very late bedtime hours".

During the second restriction period, from October 30 to December 15, bedtime and waking hours changed little, also shows this survey, published ahead of World Sleep Day, organized on Saturday by the World Sleep Society.

The survey was carried out online from January 8 to 15 by Opinion Way for INSV and MGEN mutual society among 1,010 people aged 18 to 65, representative of the metropolitan population.

If the time of sleep is little affected, more French people (45% against 41% in the normal period) describe a sleep disorder during the second confinement, most often insomnia or sleep rhythm disturbances.

This level "however has nothing to do with the more than 70% of sleep complaints" reported by some studies on the first confinement, underlines the president of INSV, an association which raises awareness of the importance of sleep in terms of public health.

A quarter (26%) report a "poorer quality of sleep", a proportion that rises to 39% among young people, while 61% have not seen a difference and 13% believe that their sleep has fallen. improved.

The survey also shows that those who report poorer quality of sleep also tend to have more anxiety or depressive disorders.

The INSV stresses, however, that more French people have sought to improve their sleep during the second confinement (28%, against 20% in normal times), by ensuring a better diet, by practicing a sport or by adopting schedules. regular sleep.

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