The six domains of sleep quality refer to the various aspects that influence how well people sleep. This includes sleep duration, sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medications, and daytime dysfunction.
Sleep duration is the amount of time spent asleep during a 24-hour period. It is important to get adequate amounts of sleep in order to feel rested and alert during the day. Research has shown that adults should sleep 7-9 hours each night, while teenagers should get 8-10 hours, and school-aged children should get 10-11 hours.
Sleep onset latency is the amount of time it takes to actually fall asleep. If it takes you more than 15 minutes to go from lying in bed to actually being asleep, then you have a problem with sleep onset latency. This can be caused by stress, anxiety, depression, or other medical conditions.
Sleep efficiency is the amount of time you spend asleep compared to the amount of time you spend in bed. If you spend more than 85% of the time you are in bed asleep, then you have good sleep efficiency. Anything less than this number can indicate a problem with sleep.
Sleep disturbances include anything that interrupts your sleep, such as snoring, talking in your sleep, or getting up to use the bathroom. These disturbances can cause you to wake up feeling tired and unrested, even if you have slept for the appropriate amount of time.
Use of sleep medications is when people take medications to help them fall asleep or stay asleep. This can be helpful in the short-term, but should not be used regularly as it can lead to dependency and other side effects.
Daytime dysfunction is when lack of sleep affects your daily functioning. This can include feeling tired during the day, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. It can also lead to more serious issues such as poor performance at work or school.
These six domains of sleep quality are important to consider when assessing your own sleep habits. If you notice that any of these domains are not up to par, then you should talk to your doctor about ways to improve your sleep.