Seasonal Changes in Sleep Patterns in Two Saskatchewan First Nation Communities

Abstract

Sleep is crucial for maintaining the recovery and restoration of the body and brain. Less sleep is associated with poor mental and physical performance. Seasonal changes in sleep patterns can be observed. This paper examines seasonal effects on sleep timing, duration, and problems in two Cree First Nation communities in Saskatchewan, Canada. Data were available from a community survey of 588 adults aged 18 years and older (range: 18–78 years) with 44.2% males and 55.8% females. Results are presented using descriptive statistics and a binary logistic-regression model to identify the association between seasonal changes in sleep patterns, and demographic, social, and environmental factors. The participants reported sleeping the least during the spring and summer months and sleeping the most during the fall and winter months. This was further confirmed by sleep hours and the lower proportion of recommended hours of sleep during the spring and summer, and a higher proportion of longer sleep duration during the fall and winter months. There was no significant variation in sleeping onset and wake-up times by season. Overall, there were no significant differences in the prevalence of sleep deprivation, insomnia, and excessive daytime sleepiness by season. When stratified by age group and sex, some differences existed in the prevalence of sleep problems by season. More than two-thirds (68.6%) of the participants reported that there was a change in sleep patterns across seasons, and about 26.0% reported a very or extremely marked change in sleep patterns across seasons. Changes in sleep patterns by season were related to money left at the end of the month and damage caused by dampness in the house.