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Updated: Oct 22, 2025
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Human Circadian Phenotyping and Diurnal Performance Testing in the Real World
Published on: April 7, 2020
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Seasonal Changes in Sleep Patterns in Two Saskatchewan First Nation Communities
Chandima P Karunanayake1, Vivian R Ramsden2, Clifford Bird3
1Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z4, Canada.
Clocks & Sleep
|August 27, 2021
Summary
Seasonal variations impact sleep duration, with individuals sleeping less in spring/summer and more in fall/winter. These sleep pattern changes were linked to financial and housing conditions.
Area of Science:
- Sleep science
- Public health
- Indigenous health
Background:
- Sleep is vital for bodily and cognitive restoration.
- Reduced sleep is linked to diminished mental and physical performance.
- Seasonal variations in human behavior and physiology are well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of seasons on sleep timing, duration, and problems.
- To examine these effects within two Cree First Nation communities in Saskatchewan, Canada.
- To identify demographic, social, and environmental factors associated with seasonal sleep changes.
Main Methods:
- A community survey of 588 adults (aged 18+) was conducted.
- Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were employed.
- Data analyzed included sleep timing, duration, and reported sleep problems.
Main Results:
- Participants reported shorter sleep duration in spring/summer and longer duration in fall/winter.
- No significant seasonal differences were found in sleep onset, wake-up times, or overall prevalence of sleep deprivation, insomnia, or excessive daytime sleepiness.
- Over two-thirds reported seasonal sleep pattern changes, with ~26% noting marked changes, linked to finances and dampness.
Conclusions:
- While overall sleep problems did not vary significantly by season, sleep duration did.
- Individual experiences of seasonal sleep changes are common and influenced by socioeconomic and environmental factors.
- Further research is needed to understand the nuances of seasonal sleep variations in Indigenous communities.
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