Stop complaining: hunter-gatherers actually sleep even less than urban dwellers.

It is widely accepted that the modern lifestyle is to blame for the daily lack of sleep among people, in contrast to our ancestors who lived in less technologically advanced times. However, an analysis of 54 sleep studies conducted worldwide revealed that individuals in small, non-industrial societies actually sleep less than those in large cities, according to New Scientist.

"Everyone I talk to complains about how poorly they sleep. But the numbers tell a different story," says Lila McKinnon from the University of Toronto in Mississauga, Canada.

Theories suggest that the rise in gadgets, such as televisions and smartphones, reduces the number of hours allocated to sleep. This effect is even starting to be referred to as an epidemic of sleep loss.

The problem is that all these studies were conducted in industrial countries, leaving the question open as to whether people slept much more before industrialization. With the advent of activity monitors on wrists, it has become easier to study sleep in non-industrial societies.

Such studies have revealed surprisingly short sleep durations. For instance, hunter-gatherers sleep an average of 6.7 hours per day, the Hadza sleep 6.2 hours, and the Bayaka sleep 5.9 hours. The shortest sleep duration is found among the Himba community in Namibia, who are nomadic herders, averaging just 5.5 hours.

McKinnon and her colleague David Samson, also from the University of Toronto in Mississauga, participated in several such studies. They now compare sleep habits in industrial societies, including the USA, Australia, and Sri Lanka, with those in smaller, non-industrial communities, including indigenous peoples of the Amazon, Madagascar, and Tanna Island in the Pacific.

Overall, the analysis is based on 54 studies involving direct measurements of sleep in individuals over 18 years of age who had no serious health issues. Although only 866 people participated in these studies, the dataset is the most comprehensive to date, says Samson.

On average, these individuals slept 6.8 hours, but in non-industrial societies, the average was 6.4 hours compared to 7.1 hours in industrial societies.

The researchers also assessed the regularity of people's circadian rhythms using a measure called the circadian function index, where a score of 1 is ideal. In non-industrial societies, the average score was 0.7 compared to 0.63 in industrial societies.

Samson links the longer sleep duration and greater sleep efficiency in industrial societies to conditions that are more conducive to sleep.

"We have made visible progress in ensuring the safety and security of our sleeping places. We don’t have to contend with competing groups of people at night or predators," says the researcher.

On the other hand, people in industrial regions are less exposed to factors that help maintain circadian rhythms, such as lower temperatures at night and bright lighting during the day. The authors of the study suspect that less regular circadian rhythms may have adverse consequences, which explain why many people perceive their sleep as poor.

Recall that scientists and doctors have shared how to achieve ideal sleep. Sleep issues are a common phenomenon in today’s ever-changing, fast-paced, and turbulent world. Based on the fact that standard recommendations for rest do not suit everyone, doctors and scientists have outlined various ways to improve sleep quality.