Sleep timing and duration for working adults in the United States before and since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Study Objectives Diverse studies have reported longer sleep durations and later circadian timing during the initial COVID-19 lockdown period. Little is known about whether effects persisted after 2020. This analysis addresses three questions: (1) How did sleep timing and duration change from 2017 to 2023? (2) Did working from home explain trends? (3) Did effects differ by education, income, or race/ethnicity groups? Methods The American Time Use Survey is a nationally representative survey conducted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics that collects 24-hour time diaries. These data are used to identify respondents who worked on the sampled day, their work location (home or not), and three sleep variables: wake-up time, bedtime, and 24-hour sleep total. Ordinary least squares regression is used to answer the study questions, comparing the COVID time period (May 2020 to December 2023) to PRECOVID (January 2017 to March 2020). Results Sleep duration was longer in the COVID time period compared to PRECOVID, by 0.23 hours (95% confidence interval = 0.17, 0.29), with earlier average bedtimes and later average waking times. There were no significant secular trends in sleep outcomes within the COVID time period, suggesting that these changes have continued through 2023. Controlling for working from home modestly attenuated, but did not eliminate, the COVID effects. Effects were generally similar across sociodemographic groups. Conclusions COVID-related changes in sleep for working adults in the United States, specifically later circadian timing and increased duration, seem to be sustained through 2023. Statement of Significance Evidence from different locations and diverse types of sleep data found that the initial months of lockdown following the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 saw increased sleep durations across populations. Using a nationally representative sample of 24-hour time diaries in the United States from 2017 to 2023, this study confirms with national data that there were longer average sleep durations and later waking times after the beginning of the pandemic and that they have continued through 2023. These effects are not fully explained by working from home (WFH). While the pandemic-related increase in WFH varied greatly by education, income, and race/ethnicity groups, the COVID-19 effect on sleep characteristics was similar across these groups.
Source: SLEEP Advances
Authors: Evan Mathura, Diane S Lauderdale
Institution: University of Chicago
Language: English
Topic: Sleep and related disorders
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,054
Funder: University of Chicago
OpenAlex ID: W4411181954