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This study investigates variations in sleep duration across different population groups of older adults in South Africa.

May 25, 2026Open Access

Differences in sleep duration among four different population groups of older adults in South Africa

Key Points

This study investigates variations in sleep duration across different population groups of older adults in South Africa.
A national population-based cross-sectional study with a sample of 3284 aged 50 years or older conducted in 2008.
Self-reported sleep duration was assessed alongside socio-demographic characteristics and health variables.
A Poisson regression model was used to analyze the data, controlling for sociodemographics and chronic disease status.
White Africans had the lowest mean sleep duration (7.88 h for men, 7.46 h for women).
18.8% of White African men and 16.9% of White African women reported short sleep (6 hours or less).
No differences in long sleep prevalence were found among population groups.

Abstract

The study aims to investigate sleep duration in four different population groups in a national probability sample of older South Africans who participated in the Study of Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) Wave 1. A national population-based cross-sectional study with a sample of 3284 aged 50 years or older in South Africa was conducted in 2008. The questionnaire included socio-demographic characteristics, health variables, and self-reported sleep duration. Results indicate that White Africans compared to other population groups had the lowest mean sleep duration (7.88 h among men and 7.46 h among women). The prevalence of short sleep (6 h or less) was the highest among both men and women among the White African (18.8% in men and 16.9% in women) and Indian or Asian African population groups (14.5% in men and 17.1% in women), and lowest among both men and women in the Black African (7.0% in men and 6.5% in women) and multi-ancestry population groups (15.6% in men and 12.7% in women). The prevalence of long sleep (9 h or more) was among both men and women the highest in the Black African population group (56.2% in men and 58.5% in women), and the lowest in the White African population group (36.4% in men and 24.3% in women). In a Poisson regression model, adjusted for sociodemographics and chronic disease status, coming from the male and female White African population group was associated with short sleep. In addition, coming from the Indian or Asian African population group was associated with short sleep. No population group differences were found regarding long sleep prevalence. White Africans reported more short sleep duration than the other population groups, while there were no racial or ethnic differences in long sleep. White Africans are more likely to have sleep durations that are associated with negative health outcomes. An explanation of the high short sleep prevalence among White Africans may be related to their racial or ethnic minority status in South Africa.

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