Time still ticking: Snooze function widely used in Germany - Time rapidly dwindles down to a mere five minutes.
Titled "International Trend Reveals Prevalence of Snooze Button Usage, with Particular Focus on Germany":
A study led by sleep researcher Rebecca Robbins from Harvard Medical School, published in the journal "Scientific Reports", has shed light on the widespread usage of the snooze button on alarm clocks, particularly in Germany.
Over 21,000 users of the "Sleep Cycle" app, spanning approximately three million nights, were analyzed for this study. It revealed that nearly 56% of those nights saw users employing the snooze function, with about 45% of participants using it on over 80% of mornings, accumulating an average of 20 minutes of extra sleep on such days. On average, all app users snoozed for 11 minutes per day.
The study further found that women tend to use the snooze button more frequently than men, averaging 2.5 times compared to men’s 2.3 times. Moreover, it was observed that snooze button usage was more common on weekdays compared to weekends.
Sweden registered an average of 2.7 snooze attempts on days when the button was used, while the figure stood at 2.5 times for both Germany and the USA, and 2.2 times for Japan and Australia.
Researchers explain that the snooze button disrupts essential sleep phases, particularly the hours preceding waking that are rich in REM sleep. Repeatedly hitting the snooze button usually only offers light sleep between alarms.
Sleep deprivation can negatively impact health, increasing the risk of mental health issues, heart disease, and cognitive impairment. Therefore, the study advises uninterrupted sleep, suggesting users set their alarm for the latest possible time and get out of bed upon the first alarm.
According to the data, global snooze button usage is widespread, with high rates observed in the United States, Sweden, and Germany. Conversely, Japan and Australia have the lowest rates of snooze button use.
In conclusion, the study underlines that while snooze button usage is common among both men and women, there is a tendency for women to snooze a bit longer. The widespread practice, particularly in Germany, could lead to significant sleep time loss for frequent snooze button users.
- Given the study's findings on snooze button usage in the "Scientific Reports" journal, it seems that the community's health-and-wellness might be impacted by this habit, as frequent snooze button use could potentially lead to sleep deprivation and associated health issues such as mental health problems, heart disease, and cognitive impairment.
- As this study reveals, the snooze button policy in health and wellness, particularly in Germany, might require reconsideration due to its widespread use and potential negative effects on sleep quality, which could be detrimental to individual and community health policies.
