What it measures
Dimension: Temporality
Sleep is a part of the circadian rhythm and is a biological necessity; put simply, our bodies need sleep to function. The National Sleep Foundation suggests that adults require between seven to nine hours of sleep per night, and that too much sleep, too little sleep, and poor quality sleep can all be detrimental to wellbeing. Fewer Canadians are reporting an adequate amount of good quality sleep than they did twenty years earlier.
Why this matters
Lack of sleep and poor sleep are associated with many factors that negatively affect physical and mental health including: depression and poor mood, an inability to concentrate, higher rates of obesity and high blood pressure, impaired cognitive functioning, and impaired hand-eye coordination. Taken together, these factors can negatively effect personal safety, social relationships, and many other areas of life.