Poll Methodology and Definitions

The National Sleep Foundation began surveying American sleep health and behaviors in 1991. The 2011 Sleep in America® annual poll was conducted for the National Sleep Foundation by WB&A Market Research, using a random sample of 1,508 adults between the ages of 13-64. The margin of error is 2.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

The poll used a validated clinical sleepiness screening tool, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, for all of the participants. The poll also used standard measures to evaluate the next day impact of inadequate sleep to assess mood, family and social life.

Sleep in America 2011 Task Force

Russell Rosenberg, PhD (Chair)
Vice Chairman, National Sleep Foundation
Director, The Atlanta School of Sleep Medicine and Technology
Atlanta, Georgia

Charles A. Czeisler, MD, PhD
Baldino Professor of Sleep Medicine
Director, Division of Sleep Medicine
Harvard Medical School and
Chief, Division of Sleep Medicine
Department of Medicine
Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts

Michael Gradisar, PhD
Flinders University
School of Psychology
Adelaide, South Australia

Lauren Hale, PhD
Stony Brook University Medical Center
Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine
Stony Brook, New York

Allison G. Harvey, PhD
Professor of Clinical Psychology
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California

Amy R. Wolfson, PhD
College of the Holy Cross
Associate Dean for Faculty Development, Professor of Psychology
Worcester, Massachusetts

NSF released the poll findings as part of its 14th annual National Sleep Awareness Week® campaign, held March 7-13, 2011, that culminates with the change to Daylight Saving Time on March 13th. With the change of clocks, NSF wishes to remind Americans that losing sleep is an important health consideration.

The National Sleep Foundation hosts the Sleep Health and Safety conference March 17-18, 2011 in Washington to advance sleep health education for health professionals and public policy leaders.

NSF Background

The National Sleep Foundation is dedicated to improving sleep health and safety through education, public awareness, and advocacy. It is well-known for its annual Sleep in America® poll. The Foundation is a charitable, educational and scientific not-for-profit organization located in Washington, DC. Its membership includes researchers and clinicians focused on sleep medicine, professionals in the health, medical and science fields, individuals, patients, families affected by drowsy driving and more than 900 healthcare facilities throughout North America.

The National Sleep Foundation does not solicit nor accept corporate support for its annual Sleep in America® polls; its polls are developed by an independent task force of sleep scientists who provide guidance and develop the poll questionnaire as well as providing the analysis of the data.

Information about the National Sleep Foundation, the current and former polls and a database of sleep professionals and sleep centers who can be contacted to comment on this story or refer patients to be interviewed can be found online at http://www.sleepfoundation.org.

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Contact: Jennifer Cowher Williams
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202-347-3471 x211
National Sleep Foundation