Sleep culture
The sleep culture describes cultural and historical aspects of sleep . When, where and how people go to sleep in different places and at different times are part of the sleep culture.
Because sleep and everything related to it is generally viewed as a very personal and intimate matter, research and records on the subject are rare. Scientific work that tries to draw conclusions about the evolutionary causes of sleep on the basis of the sleeping habits of different peoples, especially those who live very close to nature, has only recently been undertaken.
General
Recent research shows that sleep patterns vary widely between cultures . The greatest differences are between societies in which artificial light is common and sufficient and those in which this is not the case. For example, people in cultures of the second group often go to sleep shortly after sunset, but then wake up several times during the night - even for several hours. The boundaries between sleeping and waking are very blurred. The western cultures that have been studied so far are only of limited use for the analysis of changes in human ecology in this area, as the use of soft sleeping pads and living in stable houses represent a clear contrast to traditionally living peoples.
Certain societies have sleeping habits in which people sleep at any time of the day, but only briefly at night. For example, people in southern Europe know the siesta , a longer rest period in the afternoon. In many nomadic cultures, people also sleep several times during the day if work permits. In the case of peoples who practice agriculture, the sleep-wake rhythm also changes with the season.
In the mid-nineteenth century, artificial light became common property in many cultures. As a result, sleeping habits have also changed massively. People often go to bed later , but sleep longer in the morning. Most of the social activities (going out, sports , etc.) were moved to the evening or night. Especially with young people it is often considered a sign of personal freedom to be able or allowed to stay up late and often until late at night.
Historical view
Lying and sleeping was extremely important for the ancient Romans . Many activities were carried out horizontally. The lectulus , a small bed, was used for reading, writing and eating . For larger feasts and orgies was the triclinium , a kind of sofa, available. The support bed took you like with for trips to the countryside, which you could enjoy a nap anytime, anywhere. With the Cubiculum , there were already rooms in the patrician houses that we would call bedrooms today - a separate room that was mainly used for sleeping.
The sleep culture of the Romans is much better documented in pictures and writing than that in the Middle Ages. It is known that in the “ dark times ” people spent the night naked and “body to body” in the straw or hay for a long time. The Church in particular did not like this open corporeality, because it idealized asceticism . It was not until the 12th century that she had gradually accepted marriage as “the lesser evil” between visible freedom of movement and the - ascetic but self-destructive - prohibition of cohabitation. In his Rule of Benedict, Benedict of Nursia requires his monks to sleep at least dressed in a shirt: “They [the monks] should sleep when they are clothed so that they are quickly ready for the hour of prayer, and because it is not proper for them to bare theirs Touching limbs, because this stimulates the passions. "
From the 17th century onwards, bedrooms were initially furnished again in noble houses, castles and royal courts. Louis XIV even used to rule from his bed . It was not uncommon for noble spouses to have separate rooms or, under certain circumstances, separate wings. In the poor population, however, all family members shared a bed. The guest was also offered a shared bed. It was not until the 19th century that actual bedrooms became common, but it was not until after the Second World War that the “personal” bed became common property. During industrialization in the 19th and early 20th centuries, however, the sleep culture was given little weight, as sleep was synonymous with laziness and work reluctance.
Geographical differences
Depending on the culture, people sleep in different places. Some people sleep directly on the floor , others on towels or mattresses , and still others on platforms or in beds . Some use sheets , woolen blankets , comforters, or pillows . Where you lie down and how you go to bed is largely determined by the climate , social environment and wealth. Worthman and Melby have summarized the sleep habits of various indigenous peoples that they studied. They roughly categorize the peoples into four groups: hunters ( Ache , Ewe , ǃKung and others), cattle farmers ( Gabra , a subgroup of the Oromo and others), arable farmers ( harvest from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and others) and ranchers ( Balinese ). Since the hunters are predominantly nomadic, they sleep directly on the floor, but some spread cloths on it, others bed themselves on leaves and still others lie directly on the sand. Hiwi's hunters use hammocks . Pillows are practically unknown to this group, they may put sheets or a pile of clothes under their heads. Blankets are also not common. With the Ewe, all clothing is put aside in order to avoid igniting the fire when it is left burning.
The other groups, even the nomadic ranchers, sleep increased. A wide variety of constructions are used for the bedstead, from a solid block of wood to a frame with clamped leather skin. The blankets differ just as significantly: the gabra cover themselves with the linen garment, which is also worn during the day, the pathans use seasonal blankets. Here, too, pillows are the exception. It should be noted that the simple sleeping utensils are not just an advantage: In addition to the protection they provide against the cold and other hardships, they are also an attraction for parasites such as fleas or mites , which can transmit diseases.
Since people are prone to all sorts of dangers while they sleep, they try to protect themselves from them as best they can:
- In many cases the most effective - but also the most expensive and complex - protection is a solid house with a stable roof, it protects against large predators and bad weather, noise and light, and also against thieves and murderers. Sedentary groups like the harvest in Zaire build huts out of clay with several bedrooms , which also allow a certain intimacy.
- If one is not available, tents can help , but their protection, especially against noise, is significantly worse. The hunters sleeping in the tent often have to move very close together while sleeping.
- A bed or pedestal will help reduce the dangers of minor parasites . Additional protection from insects may be appropriate, depending on the region.
- A well-functioning social network can also contribute to protection, for example by alternating night watch. However, a dog can also take on the role of guard.
- The fire plays an important role, not just because of the heat, which it donates. The light scares away predators and the smoke drives away insects. The price for the fire, however, is not to be neglected: The light source disturbs our sleep, it makes noises and the smelly smoke can become annoying. In addition, wood has to be added regularly. Sleeping close to the fire also carries the risk of burns and - if the bedroom is insulated too well - carbon monoxide poisoning.
In some cultures it is common to sleep with at least one other person, often with several people or with the pets . Which groups of people come into question as "sleeping groups" is again very different from location to location. They can be family members, spouses, children, siblings, children of a certain age or gender, friends or people with a certain social position. In the groups mentioned above, it is normal, especially for hunters who live in very small tents, to sleep very close to one another, regardless of social status, gender or age. The guest also sleeps in the same tent. If there are huts, the sleeping quarters will soon be separated by gender. In all of the peoples studied, it is not customary, sometimes even frowned upon, to be alone while sleeping.
In western cultures, adults usually sleep alone or as a couple in a bedroom , while younger or same-sex children often share a child's room . It is common to share a bed alone or at most with someone very close, such as your spouse . An infant or toddler usually has its own bed, but may regularly sleep in the parents' bed . Using a sleeping bag instead of a blanket so that the infant's airway remains clear is considered to help prevent sudden infant death syndrome. In Norway , Sweden and Finland it is customary in many families and day nurseries to let babies sleep in the pushchair in front of the house during the day - wrapped up warmly - even in winter.
Sleeping with the “wrong” person is practically inadmissible, especially if there is a suspicion that it could lead to sexual acts. Particularly in cultures in which smaller or larger groups sleep together, the expression must not be sexually misinterpreted and is not perceived as cohabitation by the people involved . In general, sleep and sleeping habits are not directly related to sexuality .
If sexual intercourse should actually take place , a certain intimacy is generally sought. In western culture this is a matter of course and a simple hut can be enough to provide this. When living as nomads in a tent, it is difficult or even impossible to withdraw into intimacy, and then none of those present will be bothered by a possible copulation.
Depending on the culture, the distribution of sleep over the day is also different. While Europe and North America tend to have a long sleep per night, in countries like China or Japan daily sleep is divided into several phases, so that the night sleep phase is much shorter, but the total sleep duration per 24 hours is similar (see article Polyphasic sleep ).
In summary, the study by Worthman and Melby shows the following differences between Western and traditional sleep culture:
| West | Traditionally |
|---|---|
| single, married couples are the exception | in social groups |
| darkened | darkened |
| calm | undisturbed sleep despite the noise |
| Air conditioning , ventilation | The closeness to others and possibly to animals determines the warmth and climate. Eskimos define the cold of the night in terms of the number of dogs it takes to stay warm. |
| Mattress , pillow | no mattress, sometimes a pillow |
| no fire nearby | A fire is burning. |
| the same every day | changeable |
| physical security | social security |
| clearly limited in time and place (strict working hours, alarm clock ) | no clear boundaries, neither in time nor place |
Practically all sleep research on the meaning and purpose of sleep is based on Western sleep culture. The sleep laboratory corresponds in a practically ideal way to our idea of a suitable environment. This is a clear advantage for a lot of research, among other things because of the possibility of being able to regulate certain parameters such as noise or light in a targeted manner. However, unconscious factors that are necessary for a holistic analysis of sleep can also be omitted.
Future research should focus more on the cross-cultural differences in sleeping. The comparison may give an indication of why sleep disorders are predominantly observed in the West. It could also be that sleeping in social groups makes an important contribution to the child's development. The research area of human chronobiology is still in its infancy.
Sleep times
A study by scientists at the University of Michigan measured the sleep times of participants in different countries using an app . The participants from Japan and Singapore slept an average of 7 hours and 24 minutes per day, the German participants 7 hours and 45 minutes, the Dutch 8 hours and 12 minutes.
YouGov carried out a representative survey on getting up times in Germany in 2016 . 8% of the respondents got up before 5 a.m., 20% between 5 and 6 a.m., 31% between 6 and 7 a.m.
On behalf of Techniker Krankenkasse, Forsa surveyed a representative cross-section of Germany's adult population (TK Schlafstudie 2017). On working days, 9% of those surveyed got up before 5 a.m., 18% between 5 and 6 a.m., 32% between 6 and 7 a.m., 24% between 7 and 8 a.m., 10% between 8 and 9 a.m., a further 6% later ( and 1% said they didn't know). On non-working days, they got up significantly later (2% before 5 a.m., 2% between 5 and 6 a.m., 13% between 6 and 7 a.m., 23% between 7 and 8 a.m., 29% between 8 and 9 a.m., the remaining 30 % later; 1% without information). 48% of respondents slept seven hours or more per night, another 28% six hours and 24% five or fewer hours. 65% of the respondents said they slept well or very well. The amount and quality of sleep was lower among workers with irregular hours or shift work: 33% of them reported sleeping seven hours or more, 31% six hours and 37% five hours or less; 59% of these working people slept well or very well. Overall, the most common reason for poor sleep was the room temperature: 41% of respondents said they slept poorly because of the heat or cold in the bedroom.
clothing
Nightwear
The clothes worn when sleeping also vary from culture to culture and can also be individual or different depending on gender. Some people wear pajamas , others (mainly women in Western culture today) wear nightgowns , others normal underwear , and still others wear the same clothes as the day before. After all, people sometimes sleep naked . Up until the 16th century this was common in European culture. The custom of leaving a shirt on at night was only practiced by the upper classes in Italy around 1500 - probably mainly during the cold season .
In addition to possible embarrassing revelations, there are sometimes also religious reasons against revealing (or not at all) clothing when sleeping. The Christian Church felt shame on nudity and even frowned upon naked cohabitation. This continues to have an effect today, although the later John Paul II expressed himself very liberally about nudity in his book “Love and Responsibility” in 1960. According to Islamic scholars, a woman's body should be completely covered even when sleeping.
Current polls
There are only a few reliable statistics on sleep habits, even in western cultures. Analyzes that have been carried out over a long period of time and that would also allow conclusions to be drawn about changes in such habits are not available or only with difficulty. The following sections therefore cite some of the verifiable surveys.
According to a survey quoted in the press, twelve percent of Germans sleep naked. Most of the population prefers pajamas or nightgowns. A survey carried out in 2009 among 1002 Germans found 5% naked sleepers, while 47% said they were wearing pajamas.
| Pajamas | T-shirt | Nightgown | underwear | Nothing / naked | No information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47% | 16% | 15% | 12% | 5% | 4% |
A survey conducted in the US in 2004 found that only 13% of men wear pajamas at night, while 31% wear regular underwear and the same number sleep without clothes. 55% of women wear pajamas or a nightgown, while 14% sleep without clothes. The study asked about the usual clothing for sleeping:
| who | Nothing / naked | underwear | Nightdress / pajamas | Shorts / T-shirt | Sports jacket / sports pants | something else | No information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 22% | 16% | 34% | 23% | 1 % | 2% | 1 % |
| Men | 31% | 31% | 13% | 21% | 1 % | 3% | 1 % |
| Women | 14% | 2% | 55% | 25% | 2% | 1 % | 1 % |
In 2013, the American National Sleep Foundation carried out an international survey on sleeping habits for the first time. People were interviewed in 6 countries: the United States , Canada , Mexico , the United Kingdom , Germany, and Japan . The main aim of the survey was to obtain information about what is perceived as a “comfortable sleeping environment”, especially with regard to scents. The question of clothing was asked in passing. According to this, 30% sleep naked in the UK, while in the other countries it is between 7 and 19%.
According to a media release from the British hotel chain Travelodge in 2007, the number of sleepwalkers wandering around naked in the hotel lobby had increased sevenfold last year . Stress and alcohol abuse are believed to be the cause of sleepwalking . In total, more than 400 cases have been reported, almost all of them men. It is unclear why the sleepwalking guests were all naked. It may have something to do with the now common practice of traveling with hand luggage only , with pajamas staying at home.
There are also differences between the generations and the sexes: far more men sleep naked than women and younger generations sleep naked more often than older generations. According to a study published in 2019, 65 percent of all 20 to 30 year olds surveyed sleep naked.
Sleep clothes and health
Various sources recommend wearing loose clothing or no clothing at all, especially at night . Caroline F. Pukall of Queen's University in Kingston recommends that women sleep without underwear to avoid vulvodynia (pain around the vulva ). Men should also not wear underwear that is too tight, as this can affect the quality of the sperm . Therefore, men should also either naked or sleep with wide trousers (further pajamas , boxer shorts , gym shorts without inner etc.). In cold weather it is recommended to wear at least one T-shirt to protect the shoulders and neck joints from hypothermia.
At the end of 2014, several media cited an American study in a way that allegedly only sleeping naked can regulate body temperature for optimal sleep. Further positive effects are listed as the fact that you burn more food energy and thus fat, that the risk of diabetes is minimized, that the self-healing powers of the skin are promoted and that you improve self-esteem and satisfaction with your own body by being more naked . Ultimately, it can improve the relationship with the partner and have sex more often. More reputable media indicate, however, that the study did not make any comparison between naked sleepers and clothed sleepers, but only regulated room temperature. The study just shows that a cool bedroom environment can be healthy. Here, so-called brown fat is built up, which helps burn sugar and supports body temperature regulation. It makes sense that lighter sleepwear should accommodate this effect.
Two Dutch studies show the influence of skin temperature at night on sleep quality: If the trunk and the proximal limbs (arms and legs up to the wrists or ankles) are warmed by a few tenths of a degree with a thermal suit, the onset of sleep is accelerated and improves the depth of sleep. Warming the hands and feet reduces the waking periods at night, but does not accelerate falling asleep.
The other benefits of sleeping naked have not been scientifically proven. There is undisputed evidence that getting enough sleep is good for your health. In addition, getting enough sleep indirectly leads to a leaner body, because sugar is a simple means of covering up a lack of sleep . Those who are awake longer also have more time to eat sweets. And obesity is known to be the cause of diabetes.
literature
- Alexander A. Borbély: The Secret of Sleep . Ullstein, Frankfurt am Main 1991, ISBN 978-3-548-34761-5 ( full text pharma.uzh.ch [accessed on January 18, 2013]).
Web links
- Sleep and sleep culture through the ages . Schlafgestört.de. Accessed on October 6, 2009. - Excerpt from sleep training: A therapy manual for the treatment of sleep disorders published by Hogrefe Verlag
Remarks
- ↑ Note: This article contains characters from the alphabet of the Khoisan languages spoken in southern Africa . The display contains characters of the click letters ǀ , ǁ , ǂ and ǃ . For more information on the pronunciation of long or nasal vowels or certain clicks , see e.g. B. under Khoekhoegowab .
Individual evidence
- ^ A b c d e Carol M. Worthman, Melissa K. Melby: 6. Toward a comparative developmental ecology of human sleep . In: A comparative developmental ecology (), Emory University,.
- ↑ a b c Michael Despeghel: Those who sleep better are awake longer . Knaur Ratgeber Verlag, Munich 2007, ISBN 978-3-426-64535-2 .
- ↑ Bed story: Ten people in a quadruped . Observer. September 16, 2004. Accessed December 31, 2014.
- ↑ Susanna Stolz: The crafts of the body . Jonas Verlag, Marburg 1992, ISBN 3-89445-133-5 , page 39
- ↑ Susanna Stolz: The crafts of the body . Jonas Verlag, Marburg 1992, ISBN 3-89445-133-5 , page 40
- ↑ Susanna Stolz: The crafts of the body . Jonas Verlag, Marburg 1992, ISBN 3-89445-133-5 , page 33
- ↑ Quotation in Susanna Stolz: The handicrafts of the body . Jonas Verlag, Marburg 1992, ISBN 3-89445-133-5 , page 33
- ↑ Sleep and sleep culture through the ages . Schlafgestört.de. Accessed on October 6, 2009. - Excerpt from sleep training: A therapy manual for the treatment of sleep disorders published by Hogrefe Verlag
- ^ Sover ute i minus 20 ; Forskning om utomhussovande barn
- ↑ What is meant here is not the geographical but the cultural West.
- ↑ a b Andrea Barthélémy: A few days of sleep deficit and you are like drunk. Die Welt , May 6, 2016, accessed December 6, 2016 .
- ↑ a b Do you get up earlier than 80 percent of Germans? Die Welt , May 29, 2016, accessed December 6, 2016 .
- ↑ Sleep well, Germany: TK sleep study 2017. Techniker Krankenkasse, accessed on August 31, 2018 . Pp. 8-9.
- ↑ Sleep well, Germany: TK sleep study 2017. Techniker Krankenkasse, accessed on August 31, 2018 . P. 10.
- ↑ Sleep well, Germany: TK sleep study 2017. Techniker Krankenkasse, accessed on August 31, 2018 . P. 15.
- ↑ Sleep well, Germany: TK sleep study 2017. Techniker Krankenkasse, accessed on August 31, 2018 . Pp. 38-39.
- ↑ TK study on sleep: "Sleep is taking care of yourself". In: rbb Praxis - Utz Niklas Walter in an interview with Constanze Löffler. Accessed August 31, 2018 .
- ^ History of the Nightgown . derStandard.at. February 13, 2006. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
- ↑ Salzburger Nachrichten (PDF; 470 kB) June 13, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2013. (in the box at the bottom of the page)
- ^ Karol Wojtyła (John Paul II), Love and Responsibility. An ethical study, Kleinhain 2010 (quoted in the article nudity )
- ↑ Sleeping naked? (PDF; 27 kB) Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
- ↑ Study on sleeping habits in Germany . Unknown date. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ↑ How do you usually sleep at night? . TNS Emnid on behalf of Infoservice “Relaxing sleep”. March 2009. Accessed on January 31, 2012. The specific figures can only be seen after registration.
- ↑ American Sex Survey (PDF; 402 kB) abcnews. 2004. Retrieved September 4, 2009. ( Summary )
- ↑ www.sleepfoundation.org
- ↑ 2013 International Bedroom Poll . National Sleep Foundation (USA). 2013. Accessed on December 21, 2013. Summary here (PDF)
- ↑ Alexander Chancellor: Travelodge is having to provide towels to cover sleepwalking guests. What happened to pajamas? . The Guardian. October 26, 2007. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
- ↑ Dr. Breus: The dangers of sleeping naked . November 2, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2009.
- ^ Karen Weintraub: Study: Two-thirds of Millennials sleep nude . Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ↑ Caroline F. Pukall: Vulvar Health Hints . In: article . Queen's University. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Infertility . In: article . United States Federal Government. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ A b Paul Lee, Sheila Smith, Joyce Lindermann, et al .: Temperature-Acclimated Brown Adipose Tissue Modulates Insulin Sensitivity in Humans. In: Diabetes. November 2014, accessed February 18, 2016 .
- ↑ Sleep naked & lose weight: Study sheds light on the darkness. November 26, 2014, accessed April 5, 2015 .
- ↑ a b c Does Sleeping Naked Prevent Diabetes? - Don't ban pajamas just yet. . Washington City Paper. January 2, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
- ↑ Diminished Capability to Recognize the Optimal Temperature for Sleep Initiation May Contribute to Poor Sleep in Elderly People . In: Sleep . 2008. doi : 10.5665 / sleep / 9/31/1301 .
- ^ Roy JEM Raymann, Dick F. Swaab, Eus JW Van Someren: Skin deep: Enhanced sleep depth by cutaneous temperature manipulation . In: Brain . 131, No. 2, 2008, pp. 500-513. doi : 10.1093 / brain / awm315 . PMID 18192289 .
