SLEEP

Definition

For the purpose of this survey, duration of sleep was calculated as time between going to bed and the last time waking up.

‘Time went to bed’ was defined as time the light was turned off with the intention of going to sleep, as it can be difficult to ascertain the time when sleep actually commences. ‘Time woke up’ was defined as the last time waking up.

A typical night's sleep was considered to reflect the approximate pattern and/or number of hours that occurs on that same night of the week over time.

Population

Information was collected for persons in non-remote areas aged:

• 5 to 17 years in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey (NATSIHS)
• 5 years and over in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NATSINPAS).

Methodology

Following the sedentary behaviour questions in the 5-17 years (NATSIHS/NATSINPAS) and adult (NATSINPAS) non-remote area physical activity modules, respondents were asked about sleep behaviour on the previous night, including:

• time went to bed
• time woke up
• whether this was a typical night's sleep for that night of the week.

If it was identified as not a typical night's sleep, respondents were asked whether the sleep was more or less than usual, or if they have no typical sleep pattern. The latter category was to be used in instances where there was definitely no regular pattern of sleep, due to sleep disorders or similar circumstances. This was not to be used to describe sleep that varied by only a few hours per night.

Data Items

The data items and related output categories for this topic are available in Excel spreadsheet format from the Downloads tab of this product.

Interpretation

Point to be considered in interpreting data for this topic includes the following:

• Sleep time is calculated as time first turned off the lights with the intention of going to sleep until the last time a respondent woke up. Total sleep time may therefore not accurately depict actual hours slept in situations where a long time was taken to fall asleep and/or waking up during the night.

Comparability with other surveys

The specific questions used for this topic have not previously been used in an ABS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population survey.

Several surveys, both within Australia and internationally, have collected data on sleep. For the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, the Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children has collected data on sleep routines and difficulty sleeping, and times go to bed on a usual week night or weekend. While the concepts collected in other surveys may be similar, the questions asked are not directly comparable and therefore any data comparisons with the AATSIHS should be done with caution.

Comparability with 2004-05 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS)

Sleep data was not collected in the 2004-05 NATSIHS, therefore no comparisons can be made.

Comparability with 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS)

Data regarding sleep was collected for children aged 0-14 years in the 2008 NATSISS. However the questions related to trouble sleeping, and, for children 0-3, the position they sleep in and whether they sleep in the same room as other people. Therefore no comparison can be made with the sleep data collected in the 2012-13 AATSIHS.

Comparability with 2011-12 Australian Health Survey (AHS)

Sleep data was collected in the 2011-12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) for persons aged 5 years and over, which is consistent and comparable with NATSINPAS. However, this content was only collected for 5-17 year olds in NATSIHS, and therefore any comparisons between NNPAS and NATSIHS or AATSIHS Core data should be limited to this population.

Sleep data was not collected in the 2011-12 National Health Survey (NHS).

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