Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Sleep characteristics across the lifespan in 1.1 million people from the Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Nature Human Behaviour volume 5, pages 113–122 (2021)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

We aimed to obtain reliable reference charts for sleep duration, estimate the prevalence of sleep complaints across the lifespan and identify risk indicators of poor sleep. Studies were identified through systematic literature search in Embase, Medline and Web of Science (9 August 2019) and through personal contacts. Eligible studies had to be published between 2000 and 2017 with data on sleep assessed with questionnaires including ≥100 participants from the general population. We assembled individual participant data from 200,358 people (aged 1–100 years, 55% female) from 36 studies from the Netherlands, 471,759 people (40–69 years, 55.5% female) from the United Kingdom and 409,617 people (≥18 years, 55.8% female) from the United States. One in four people slept less than age-specific recommendations, but only 5.8% slept outside of the ‘acceptable’ sleep duration. Among teenagers, 51.5% reported total sleep times (TST) of less than the recommended 8–10 h and 18% report daytime sleepiness. In adults (≥18 years), poor sleep quality (13.3%) and insomnia symptoms (9.6–19.4%) were more prevalent than short sleep duration (6.5% with TST < 6 h). Insomnia symptoms were most frequent in people spending ≥9 h in bed, whereas poor sleep quality was more frequent in those spending <6 h in bed. TST was similar across countries, but insomnia symptoms were 1.5–2.9 times higher in the United States. Women (≥41 years) reported sleeping shorter times or slightly less efficiently than men, whereas with actigraphy they were estimated to sleep longer and more efficiently than man. This study provides age- and sex-specific population reference charts for sleep duration and efficiency which can help guide personalized advice on sleep length and preventive practices.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: Age-specific percentile curves of TST (n = 164,069) and SE (n = 76,746).
Fig. 2: Age-specific percentile curves for TIB, stratified by sex (n = 106,282, 56% females).
Fig. 3: Sleep timing across lifespan.
Fig. 4: Prevalence of having difficulty initiating sleep (n = 95,603) and ‘poor’ sleep quality (n = 77,854), across different durations of time in bed.

Data availability

Our data protection agreements with the participating cohort studies do not allow us to share individual-level data from these studies to third parties.

Code availability

The coding protocol for data analysis is provided in the Supplementary Text. Scripts of the statistical analyses are available upon request.

References

  1. Morin, C. M. et al. Cognitive-behavior therapy singly and combined with medication for persistent insomnia: impact on psychological and daytime functioning. Behav. Res. Ther. 87, 109–116 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. van Straten, A. et al. Cognitive and behavioral therapies in the treatment of insomnia: a meta-analysis. Sleep Med. Rev. 38, 3–16 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hirshkowitz, M. et al. National Sleep Foundation’s updated sleep duration recommendations: final report. Sleep Health 1, 233–243 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hirshkowitz, M. et al. National Sleep Foundation’s sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep Health 1, 40–43 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Guyatt, G. H. et al. GRADE: an emerging consensus on rating quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. Brit. Med. J. 336, 924–926 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Walch, O. J., Cochran, A. & Forger, D. B. A global quantification of “normal” sleep schedules using smartphone data. Sci. Adv. 2, e1501705 (2016).

  7. Kerkhof, G. A. Epidemiology of sleep and sleep disorders in The Netherlands. Sleep Med. 30, 229–239 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Soldatos, C. R., Allaert, F. A., Ohta, T. & Dikeos, D. G. How do individuals sleep around the world? Results from a single-day survey in ten countries. Sleep Med. 6, 5–13 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Iglowstein, I., Jenni, O. G., Molinari, L. & Largo, R. H. Sleep duration from infancy to adolescence: reference values and generational trends. Pediatrics 111, 302–307 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Hense, S. et al. Factors that influence weekday sleep duration in European children. Sleep 34, 633–639 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Leng, Y. et al. Self-reported sleep patterns in a British population cohort. Sleep Med. 15, 295–302 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Espiritu, J. R. Aging-related sleep changes. Clin. Geriatr. Med. 24, 1–14 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Jackson, C. L., Redline, S., Kawachi, I., Williams, M. A. & Hu, F. B. Racial disparities in short sleep duration by occupation and industry. Am. J. Epidemiol. 178, 1442–1451 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Ohayon, M. M. & Reynolds, C. F. 3rd Epidemiological and clinical relevance of insomnia diagnosis algorithms according to the DSM-IV and the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD). Sleep Med. 10, 952–960 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Roth, T. et al. Prevalence and perceived health associated with insomnia based on DSM-IV-TR; International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision; and Research Diagnostic Criteria/International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Second Edition criteria: results from the America Insomnia Survey. Biol. Psychiatry 69, 592–600 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Galland, B. C., Taylor, B. J., Elder, D. E. & Herbison, P. Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: a systematic review of observational studies. Sleep Med. Rev. 16, 213–222 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ohayon, M. M., Carskadon, M. A., Guilleminault, C. & Vitiello, M. V. Meta-analysis of quantitative sleep parameters from childhood to old age in healthy individuals: developing normative sleep values across the human lifespan. Sleep 27, 1255–1273 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Olds, T., Blunden, S., Petkov, J. & Forchino, F. The relationships between sex, age, geography and time in bed in adolescents: a meta-analysis of data from 23 countries. Sleep Med. Rev. 14, 371–378 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Simonelli, G. et al. Sleep health epidemiology in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of poor sleep quality and sleep duration. Sleep Health 4, 239–250 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Dutch Census 2011 (Statistics Netherlands, 2014).

  21. Bianchi, M. T., Thomas, R. J. & Westover, M. B. An open request to epidemiologists: please stop querying self-reported sleep duration. Sleep Med. 35, 92–93 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Lavie, P. Self-reported sleep duration—what does it mean? J. Sleep Res. 18, 385–386 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Hayley, A. C. et al. Trajectories and stability of self-reported short sleep duration from adolescence to adulthood. J. Sleep Res. 24, 621–628 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Sivertsen, B., Harvey, A. G., Pallesen, S. & Hysing, M. Trajectories of sleep problems from childhood to adolescence: a population-based longitudinal study from Norway. J. Sleep Res. 26, 55–63 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Sleep and Sleep Disorders: Data and Statistics (CDC, 2014).

  26. Sheehan, C. M., Frochen, S. E., Walsemann, K. M. & Ailshire, J. A. Are U.S. adults reporting less sleep? Findings from sleep duration trends in the National Health Interview Survey, 2004–2017. Sleep 42, zsy221 (2019).

  27. Hoevenaar-Blom, M. P., Spijkerman, A. M., Kromhout, D., van den Berg, J. F. & Verschuren, W. M. Sleep duration and sleep quality in relation to 12-year cardiovascular disease incidence: the MORGEN study. Sleep 34, 1487–1492 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Anujuo, K. et al. Relationship between short sleep duration and cardiovascular risk factors in a multi-ethnic cohort—the HELIUS study. Sleep Med. 16, 1482–1488 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Cappuccio, F. P., Cooper, D., D’Elia, L., Strazzullo, P. & Miller, M. A. Sleep duration predicts cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Eur. Heart J. 32, 1484–1492 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Cappuccio, F. P., D’Elia, L., Strazzullo, P. & Miller, M. A. Quantity and quality of sleep and incidence of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes Care 33, 414–420 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Adjei, N. K. & Brand, T. Investigating the associations between productive housework activities, sleep hours and self-reported health among elderly men and women in Western industrialised countries. BMC Public Health 18, 110 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Williams, J. A., Zimmerman, F. J. & Bell, J. F. Norms and trends of sleep time among US children and adolescents. JAMA Pediatr. 167, 55–60 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Ohayon, M. M. Epidemiology of insomnia: what we know and what we still need to learn. Sleep Med. Rev. 6, 97–111 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Itani, O. et al. Nationwide epidemiological study of insomnia in Japan. Sleep Med. 25, 130–138 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Stewart, L. A. et al. Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses of individual participant data: the PRISMA-IPD statement. JAMA 313, 1657–1665 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. The Dutch Standard Classification of Education SOI 2006 (Statistics Netherlands, 2008).

  37. Statistics Netherlands. Wat verstaat het CBS onder een allochtoon? (2016); https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/faq/specifiek/wat-verstaat-het-cbs-onder-een-allochtoon-#

  38. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edn (APA, 2013).

  39. Stronks, K., Kulu-Glasgow, I. & Agyemang, C. The utility of ‘country of birth’ for the classification of ethnic groups in health research: the Dutch experience. Ethn. Health 14, 255–269 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Koopman-Verhoeff, M. E. et al. Preschool family irregularity and the development of sleep problems in childhood: a longitudinal study. J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 60, 857–865 (2019).

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Koolhaas, C. M. et al. Objectively measured sleep and body mass index: a prospective bidirectional study in middle-aged and older adults. Sleep Med. 57, 43–50 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Jones, S. E. et al. Genetic studies of accelerometer-based sleep measures yield new insights into human sleep behaviour. Nat. Commun. 10, 1585 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource (UKBB application nos. 6818 and 9072). We would like to thank the participants and researchers from the UKBB who contributed or collected data. This work was supported by a grant financed by the Dutch Brain Foundation (Hersenstichting, grant no. GH2015.4.01). The work of D.K. was supported by an NWA Startimuls KNAW 2017 grant no. AZ/3137. E.J.W.V.S. was supported by European Research Council grant no. ERC-2014-AdG-671084 INSOMNIA. The work of H.T. was supported by a Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research grant no. 017.VICI.106.370. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Eus J. W. Van Someren, Henning Tiemeier.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    Desana Kocevska, Thom S. Lysen, M. Arfan Ikram, Oscar H. Franco, Annemarie I. Luik & Henning Tiemeier

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    Desana Kocevska, M. Elisabeth Koopman-Verhoeff, Maartje P. C. M. Luijk, Ivonne P. M. Derks, Jan van der Ende, Frank C. Verhulst, Yllza Xerxa & Henning Tiemeier

  3. The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    Desana Kocevska, M. Elisabeth Koopman-Verhoeff, Ivonne P. M. Derks & Yllza Xerxa

  4. Department of Sleep and Cognition, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Society for Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Desana Kocevska, Marije C. M. Vermeulen & Eus J. W. Van Someren

  5. Lifelines Cohort Study, Research Office Lifelines, Roden, the Netherlands

    Aafje Dotinga & Kim Meijer

  6. Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    Maartje P. C. M. Luijk

  7. Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands

    Niki Antypa

  8. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

    Nienke R. Biermasz

  9. Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands

    Anneke Blokstra, H. Susan J. Picavet, Sandra H. van Oostrom, W. M. Monique Verschuren & Alet H. Wijga

  10. National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands

    Johannes Brug & Linda Grievink

  11. Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Johannes Brug

  12. Radboud University, Behavioural Science Institute, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

    Wiliam J. Burk & Sara Pieters

  13. GGZ inGeest / Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Hannie C. Comijs & Brenda W. J. H. Penninx

  14. Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

    Eva Corpeleijn

  15. Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Hassan S. Dashti

  16. Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Hassan S. Dashti

  17. Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Eduard J. de Bruin, Julia F. Dewald-Kaufmann & Anne Marie Meijer

  18. Department of Epidemiology, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Ron de Graaf & Margreet ten Have

  19. Hochschule Fresenius, University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany

    Julia F. Dewald-Kaufmann

  20. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany

    Julia F. Dewald-Kaufmann

  21. Department of General Practice and Elderly Care, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Petra J. M. Elders

  22. Department of Pediatrics, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Reinoldus J. B. J. Gemke

  23. Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Lauren Hale

  24. Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

    Catharina A. Hartman & Albertine J. Oldehinkel

  25. Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Cobi J. Heijnen

  26. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Martijn Huisman, Femke Rutters & Jos W. R. Twisk

  27. Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Anke Huss & Roel C. H. Vermeulen

  28. Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    M. Arfan Ikram

  29. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    M. Arfan Ikram

  30. Genetics of Complex Traits, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    Samuel E. Jones, Matt C. Smith & Andrew R. Wood

  31. Healthy Living Expertise Group, Department of Child Health, Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, TNO, Leiden, the Netherlands

    Mariska Klein Velderman & Sijmen A. Reijneveld

  32. Research Center Healthy Cities, Knowledge Center for Health and Social work, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Zwolle, the Netherlands

    Maaike Koning & Carry M. Renders

  33. Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

    Raymond Noordam

  34. Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    Joost Oude Groeniger & Frank J. van Lenthe

  35. School for Psychology and Artificial Intelligence, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

    Sara Pieters

  36. Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

    Sijmen A. Reijneveld

  37. Department of Clinical Child & Family Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Ellen Reitz

  38. Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Carry M. Renders

  39. IVO Addiction Research Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    Gerda Rodenburg & Dike Van de Mheen

  40. Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Amika S. Singh

  41. Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Marieke B. Snijder & Karien Stronks

  42. Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Marieke B. Snijder

  43. Scientific Center for Care and Welfare (Tranzo), Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands

    Dike Van de Mheen

  44. Institute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands

    Kristiaan B. van der Heijden & Marije C. M. Vermeulen

  45. Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands

    Kristiaan B. van der Heijden

  46. CentERdata and Tilburg University Network on Health and Labor, Tilburg, the Netherlands

    Peter G. van der Velden

  47. Department of Pediatric Oncology-Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Emma Children’s Hospital, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Raphaële R. L. van Litsenburg

  48. Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Raphaële R. L. van Litsenburg

  49. Section of Clinical Child and Family Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Frank J. van Schalkwijk & Agnes M. Willemen

  50. LEARN!Research Institute for Learning and Education, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Frank J. van Schalkwijk & Agnes M. Willemen

  51. School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Connor M. Sheehan

  52. NIVEL, Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek van de Gezondheidszorg, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Robert A. Verheij

  53. Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Roel C. H. Vermeulen & W. M. Monique Verschuren

  54. Department of Public Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Tanja G. M. Vrijkotte

  55. Department of Woman & Baby, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Maike ter Wolbeek

  56. Medical Library, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    Wichor M. Bramer

  57. Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Oscar H. Franco

  58. Departments of Integrative Neurophysiology and Psychiatry, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    Eus J. W. Van Someren

  59. Department of Social and Behavioral Science, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Henning Tiemeier

Authors
  1. Desana Kocevska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thom S. Lysen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aafje Dotinga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Elisabeth Koopman-Verhoeff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Maartje P. C. M. Luijk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Niki Antypa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Nienke R. Biermasz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Anneke Blokstra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Johannes Brug
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Wiliam J. Burk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Hannie C. Comijs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Eva Corpeleijn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Hassan S. Dashti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Eduard J. de Bruin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Ron de Graaf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. Ivonne P. M. Derks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. Julia F. Dewald-Kaufmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. Petra J. M. Elders
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. Reinoldus J. B. J. Gemke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  20. Linda Grievink
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  21. Lauren Hale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  22. Catharina A. Hartman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  23. Cobi J. Heijnen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  24. Martijn Huisman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  25. Anke Huss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  26. M. Arfan Ikram
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  27. Samuel E. Jones
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  28. Mariska Klein Velderman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  29. Maaike Koning
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  30. Anne Marie Meijer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  31. Kim Meijer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  32. Raymond Noordam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  33. Albertine J. Oldehinkel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  34. Joost Oude Groeniger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  35. Brenda W. J. H. Penninx
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  36. H. Susan J. Picavet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  37. Sara Pieters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  38. Sijmen A. Reijneveld
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  39. Ellen Reitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  40. Carry M. Renders
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  41. Gerda Rodenburg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  42. Femke Rutters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  43. Matt C. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  44. Amika S. Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  45. Marieke B. Snijder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  46. Karien Stronks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  47. Margreet ten Have
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  48. Jos W. R. Twisk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  49. Dike Van de Mheen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  50. Jan van der Ende
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  51. Kristiaan B. van der Heijden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  52. Peter G. van der Velden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  53. Frank J. van Lenthe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  54. Raphaële R. L. van Litsenburg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  55. Sandra H. van Oostrom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  56. Frank J. van Schalkwijk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  57. Connor M. Sheehan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  58. Robert A. Verheij
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  59. Frank C. Verhulst
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  60. Marije C. M. Vermeulen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  61. Roel C. H. Vermeulen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  62. W. M. Monique Verschuren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  63. Tanja G. M. Vrijkotte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  64. Alet H. Wijga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  65. Agnes M. Willemen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  66. Maike ter Wolbeek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  67. Andrew R. Wood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  68. Yllza Xerxa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  69. Wichor M. Bramer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  70. Oscar H. Franco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  71. Annemarie I. Luik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  72. Eus J. W. Van Someren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  73. Henning Tiemeier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

D.K., H.T. and E.J.W.V.S. designed the study and, together with T.S.L. and A.I.L., worked on establishing definitions, and obtaining contact with the included cohorts and drafting the manuscript. O.H.F. provided expertise in systematic reviewing and meta-analysis. W.M.B. provided systematic literature reviewing of online databases expertise. D.K., T.S.L., I.P.M.D., M.E.K.-V. and Y.X. independently screened abstracts identified by systematic review. D.K., T.S.L., M.P.C.M.L. and A.I.L. closely monitored data coding and ensured reliability. D.K. and T.S.L. independently coded all individual datasets and D.K. analysed the data. A.D., N.A., N.R.B., A.B., J.B., W.J.B., H.C.C., E.C., H.S.D., E.J.d.B., R.d.G., J.F.D.-K., P.J.M.E., R.J.B.J.G., L.G., L.H., C.A.H., C.J.H., M.H., A.H., M.A.I., S.E.J., M.K.V., M.K., A.M.M., K.M., R.M., A.J.O., J.O.G., B.W.J.H.P., H.S.J.P., S.P., S.A.R., E.R., C.M.R., G.R., F.R., M.C.S., A.S.S., M.B.S., K.S., M.t.H., J.W.R.T., D.v.d.M., J.v.d.E., K.B.v.d.H., P.G.v.d.V., F.J.v.L., R.R.L.v.L., S.H.v.O., F.J.v.S., C.M.S., R.A.V., F.C.V., M.C.M.V., R.C.H.V., W.M.M.V., T.G.M.V., A.H.W., A.M.W., M.t.W. and A.R.W. were involved in the design, data collection or management of the individual studies and provided important insight into the respective datasets and their coding, cleaning and usage. All authors critically evaluated the manuscript and approved the last version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Henning Tiemeier.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

All authors have completed the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) uniform disclosure form and declare: no financial relationships with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous 3 years; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Additional information

Peer review information Peer reviewer reports are available. Primary Handling Editor: Jamie Horder.

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Text, Supplementary References, Supplementary Figs. 1–7 and Supplementary Tables 1–16.

Reporting Summary

Peer Review Information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kocevska, D., Lysen, T.S., Dotinga, A. et al. Sleep characteristics across the lifespan in 1.1 million people from the Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nat Hum Behav 5, 113–122 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-020-00965-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-020-00965-x

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing