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One quarter of Europeans are sleeping worse due
to financial insecurity
and debt

To mark World Mental Health Day we conducted a survey to understand how people are coping with the current climate of economic uncertainty and what impact this has on mental health and sleep

Every year on 10 October, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health raise awareness of the importance of mental health

One of the most important factors for mental health is sleep. Sleep affects our general mood and mental health in many ways and striving for an optimal and healthy quality of sleep can help us limit the likelihood of developing mental health problems. On the other hand, multiple studies have linked financial stress with poor mental health and lack of sleep. Needless to say, sleep is vital to our physical and psychological well-being. In fact, based on another recent survey conducted by Emma - The Sleep Company in the UK, sleep is seen as a priority among people as it is the activity that contributes the most to a person's wellbeing, along with physical exercise, healthy diet, and social time.

Current Economic Climate

38 per cent of respondents feel more depressed because of the current economic climate

Rising Living Cost

One quarter of the respondents have their sleep harmed by concerns with the rising living cost

Sick Days

One in four workers have already taken at least one sick day in 2022 because of poor sleep

The rising cost of living is affecting the sleep of one in four Europeans, reveals a survey carried out in September 2022 by Emma-The Sleep Company, to coincide with World Mental Health Day. At a time of economic uncertainty, with inflation at 9.1 per cent on the date of the survey in the Eurozone and 9.9 per cent in the UK, approximately four in 10 Europeans (44%) say they are feeling more anxious and more depressed (38%), due to the current situation.

According to the study, carried in four European countries (UK, Germany, Spain and Portugal) and focusing on population between the ages of 16 and 65, one in four Europeans classify their mental health as poor (27%), a problem which seems to affect women (35%) more than men (22%). Already three in four respondents (79%) consider that sleep has an impact on mental health. Approximately 40 per cent of those questioned were not satisfied with the quality of sleep in the previous two weeks and 36 per cent of those questioned said that they slept five hours or less, with 30 per cent saying that they slept less than usual. In the UK, 44 per cent of the inquired people are sleeping 5 or less hours, a high value specially when compared with Portugal (28%).

When asked about the impact that sleeping badly has on multiple aspects of their lives, three out of four Europeans highlighted lower productivity at work, in their studies and/or at domestic tasks and six out of ten felt a rise in depressive feelings (59%) and anxiety levels (57%), as well as a decrease in empathy (56%). Half of the respondents consider that a bad night's sleep decreases libido (49%).

Approximately, one in four Europeans revealed that they had missed work at least once in 2022 because they had slept badly and five per cent admits having taken 6 or more sick leaves for the same reason. Another interesting fact is that the more sick days taken, the fewer hours slept (6 out of 10 people who took six or more sick days only slept between 3 and 5 hours a night).

Major concerns about the future

Faced with a list of issues with a potential negative impact on their lives, including climate change, environmental pollution, current political conflicts (e.g. Ukraine), pandemics, among others – Europeans concerns focused mostly on financial aspects. Six in ten respondents (62%) were very concerned about the cost of living in their region, as well as current economic climate (59%), and little more than half mentioned personal financial insecurity and debt (54%). Rounding out the top five concerns were climate change (48%) and the gap between rich and poor worldwide.

62% Cost of Living
59% Current Economic Climate
54% Financial Insecurity Debt
48% Gap Between Rich and Poor

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

“Financial stress can create anxiety, exhaustion, strained relationships with partners, and affect productivity, among many other detrimental effects on mental health and sleep. While seeking help for mental health is key, implementing the right strategies to ensure a good night's sleep is a great first step and can impact how we deal with these challenges”

— Theresa Schnorbach, Psychologist specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and Sleep Scientist at Emma - The Sleep Company

Why Europeans are sleeping worse

Looking at the reasons that have taken sleep away from Europeans financial insecurity/debt (27%) are the most cited ones, with Portugal (35%) and Spain (30%) leading the way, followed by UK (27%) and Germany (25%). The cost of living is the second biggest reason negatively impacting the sleep of Europeans, with one quarter of the respondents claiming to be affected (24%). Mental health (24%), physical health (21%) and professional perspectives/job security (17%) close the top five.

27% Financial Insecurity and Debt
24% Cost of Living
24% Mental Health
17% Professional Perspectives and Job Security

FAQs

In what age groups sleep is more impacted by economical concerns?

Among Europeans who perceive their sleep being negatively affected by financial insecurity/indebtedness, seven out of 10 are in the 35-54 age group (69%). When it comes to the ones who claim that mental health concerns harm their sleep, it is the youngest age groups - 16-24 and 25-34 year old - that register the highest volume of responses (32% and 28%, respectively).
How frequently Europeans use sleep aids?

This survey also revealed that 17 per cent of Europeans are relying on sleep aids every night, with 15 revealing that they are using it more than usual.
Which issues concern people to the point of having negative impact on their mental health in general?

Of the 93% of Europeans who claim to be concerned about the future, one third (35%) puts the cost of living in their region of residence (e.g.: rents) and financial insecurity and debt (35%) at the top. UK is where apprehension about the cost of living is greatest, with 44 per cent of respondents highlighting this particular topic, contrasting with Spain with only 29 per cent.

On the other hand, in Spain, as in Portugal, concern about professional perspectives and job security negatively affects the mental health of a quarter of respondents, while in the UK and Germany only one in every 10 respondents mentions this issue as a stress factor.

Concerns about mental health (27%) and physical health (24%) are pressing for approximately one quarter of respondents and one in five Europeans also feel that the global economic climate is adversely affecting their mental health.

AURORA APP

The Emma app is now available

Recently, Emma launched a new app, called Emma Up, providing users with tailor-made, step-by-step support for better sleep in the long term. The app has been developed together with leading psychologists and sleep scientists from Oxford University, and it’s already available in the UK, Germany, Netherlands and Austria.

VISIT SUNRISE BY EMMA

Advice from Emma’s sleep experts

It is important to recognize that talking about mental health can help raise awareness about such a significant topic, and can help people feel empowered to seek help. There are multiple methods we can practice to achieve good mental hygiene, sleep being one of them and it can also help to try and moderate the stressors in our lives through various ways. Visit https://www.sunrisebyemma.co.uk/ for expert advice on what to do to cope with challenges.

AWAKEN YOUR BEST

Sleeping well is the first step to be mentally happy

Not getting enough sleep can exacerbate mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, making it difficult to cope with stressful situations and problems in everyday life. People who get enough sleep are more emotionally balanced, have better moods, are calmer, and demonstrate more motivation and commitment as they have a better ability to regulate and assess their emotions. Essentially, sleep is a natural mood booster and the backbone of psychological resilience.

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