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The Sleep Expectation-Reality Gap: Exploring Discrepancies Between Perceived and Ideal Sleep Duration in Primary Care
Carlos De Las Cuevas1,2, María Segovia3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Dermatology and Psychiatry, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 28, 2025
Summary
Most primary care patients experience a significant gap between their perceived and ideal sleep duration. This discrepancy is linked to insomnia severity, older age, and lifestyle choices, highlighting a need for interventions.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Medicine
- Primary Care Research
- Psychology
Background:
- A significant portion of the population experiences a discrepancy between how much sleep they perceive they get and how much they ideally need.
- Understanding the factors contributing to this sleep expectation-reality gap is crucial for improving patient well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the difference between perceived and ideal sleep duration in primary care patients.
- To identify demographic, lifestyle, and psychological factors associated with this sleep discrepancy.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey of 300 primary care patients assessed demographics, sleep perceptions, and insomnia severity using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).
- Sleep discrepancy was calculated as the difference between perceived and ideal sleep duration.
- Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, Spearman's correlations, and multiple linear regression.
Main Results:
- 81.3% of participants reported a significant sleep discrepancy, with perceived sleep duration (6.39 ± 1.36 h) being substantially lower than ideal (8.07 ± 0.75 h).
- Higher ISI scores (indicating greater insomnia severity) were strongly correlated with larger sleep discrepancies (r = -0.476, p < 0.001).
- Insomnia severity, higher BMI, cola consumption, and older age were significant predictors of sleep discrepancy, explaining 27.7% of the variance.
Conclusions:
- A considerable gap exists between perceived and ideal sleep duration among primary care patients.
- Insomnia severity, older age, and certain lifestyle factors are key contributors to this discrepancy.
- Cognitive-behavioral interventions targeting maladaptive sleep expectations may enhance sleep satisfaction and reduce distress in primary care settings.
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