Insomnia and health problems in Canadians

Study Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalen ce of, and to identify the relative contribution of selected factors associ ated with insomnia in the Canadian population age 15 and older. Design: Weighted analysis of cross-sectional data from the Canadian General Social Survey, Cycle 6, 1991. Prevalence estimates were calculated for the total and age-specific Canadian population age 15 and older. Multiple logi stic regression techniques were employed to study the contribution of an ar ray of sociodemographic, lifestyle, stress, and physical health factors to the experience of insomnia. Setting: N/A Participants: A representative sample of the Canadian household population age 15+ (n=11,924). Interventions: N/A Measurements and Results: Twenty-four percent of the Canadian population ag e 15+ report insomnia. The following factors were associated with insomnia in multivariate logistic regression: female gender, being widowed or single , low education, low income, not being in the labor force, ever having smok ed, life stress, specific chronic physical health problems (circulatory, di gestive and respiratory disease, migraine, allergy and rheumatic disorders) , pain, activity limitation and health dissatisfaction. Age was not signifi cantly associated with insomnia. Conclusions: Insomnia was highly prevalent among the non-institutionalized Canadian population age 15 and older. A very stressful life, severe pain an d dissatisfaction with one's health demonstrated the highest odds ratios as sociated with insomnia. Increasing age per se and lifestyle factors were no t significantly associated with insomnia.