Table of Contents

Component Description

The sleep disorders (variable name prefix SLQ) data set provides questions on sleep habits and disorders. The number of questions was expanded to include several questions previously asked in NHANES 2007-2008 (and earlier), and two new questions about usual sleep and wake times.

Eligible Sample

All participants aged 16 and older were eligible.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

These questions were asked in the home, by trained interviewers, using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) system.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

The CAPI system is programmed with built-in consistency checks to reduce data entry errors.

Data Processing and Editing

Edits were made to ensure completeness, consistency, and analytic usefulness of the data. Audio recordings were reviewed, when possible, to validate both very low and high hours of sleep. 

Analytic Notes

Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines and the on-line NHANES Tutorial for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues.

SLQ300 (usual time to sleep) and SLQ310 (usual wake time): formatted as character variables (HH:MM) and written in the 24 hour notation form where HH (00 to 23) is the number of full hours that have passed since midnight and MM (00 to 59) is the number of full minutes that have passed since the last full hour.

SLD012 (hours of sleep) was calculated from questions on usual “fall sleep” and “wake up” times reported during main sleeping period (night or day) for workdays or weekdays (SLQ300 and SLQ310). SLQ012 was rounded to the nearest half hour. Persons who reported that they woke up periodically during their main sleeping period were asked to estimate these times to the best of their ability. As a result SLD012 includes both very short and long sleep durations. If a sleep or wake time was not reported, then SLD012 was not calculated. Note also; SLD012 may not represent the total hours of sleep during a 24 hour period.

Codebook and Frequencies

SEQN - Respondent sequence number

Variable Name:
SEQN
SAS Label:
Respondent sequence number
English Text:
Respondent sequence number.
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS

SLQ300 - Usual sleep time on weekdays or workdays

Variable Name:
SLQ300
SAS Label:
Usual sleep time on weekdays or workdays
English Text:
The next set of questions is about {your/SP's} sleeping habits. The first two questions refer to the times {you get/SP gets} in and out of bed in order to sleep, not including naps. What time {do you/does SP} usually go to sleep on weekdays or workdays?
English Instructions:
Character variable 'HH:MM' ('00:00' to '23:30')
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
Usual sleep time on weekdays or workdays Value was recorded 6303 6303
77777 Refused 0 6303
99999 Don't know 20 6323
< blank > Missing 4 6327

SLQ310 - Usual wake time on weekdays or workdays

Variable Name:
SLQ310
SAS Label:
Usual wake time on weekdays or workdays
English Text:
What time {do you/does SP} usually wake up on weekdays or workdays?
English Instructions:
Character variable 'HH:MM' ('00:00' to '23:30')
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
Usual wake time on weekdays or workdays Value was recorded 6307 6307
77777 Refused 0 6307
99999 Don't know 16 6323
< blank > Missing 4 6327

SLD012 - Sleep hours

Variable Name:
SLD012
SAS Label:
Sleep hours
English Text:
How much sleep {do you/does SP} usually get at night on weekdays or workdays?
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
2 to 14.5 Range of Values 6294 6294
. Missing 33 6327

SLQ030 - How often do you snore?

Variable Name:
SLQ030
SAS Label:
How often do you snore?
English Text:
In the past 12 months, how often did {you/SP} snore while {you were/s/he was} sleeping?
English Instructions:
INTERVIEWER INSTRUCTION: IF R SAYS "DON"T KNOW", PROBE IF ANYONE HAS TOLD THEM THEY SNORE.
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Never 1820 1820
1 Rarely - 1-2 nights a week 1475 3295
2 Occasionally - 3-4 nights a week 1067 4362
3 Frequently - 5 or more nights a week 1513 5875
7 Refused 2 5877
9 Don't know 450 6327
. Missing 0 6327

SLQ040 - How often do you snort or stop breathing

Variable Name:
SLQ040
SAS Label:
How often do you snort or stop breathing
English Text:
In the past 12 months, how often did {you/SP} snort, gasp, or stop breathing while {you were/s/he was} asleep?
English Instructions:
INTERVIEWER INSTRUCTION: IF THE RESPONDENT ASKS "HOW WOULD I KNOW IF I SNORE, GASP OR STOP BREATHING WHEN I AM SLEEPING? PROBE IF ANYONE TOLD THEM THAT THEY DO THIS.
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Never 4535 4535
1 Rarely - 1-2 nights a week 773 5308
2 Occasionally - 3-4 nights a week 351 5659
3 Frequently - 5 or more nights a week 286 5945
7 Refused 2 5947
9 Don't know 380 6327
. Missing 0 6327

SLQ050 - Ever told doctor had trouble sleeping?

Variable Name:
SLQ050
SAS Label:
Ever told doctor had trouble sleeping?
English Text:
{Have you/Has SP} ever told a doctor or other health professional that {you have/s/he has} trouble sleeping?
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 1629 1629
2 No 4694 6323
7 Refused 0 6323
9 Don't know 4 6327
. Missing 0 6327

SLQ120 - How often feel overly sleepy during day?

Variable Name:
SLQ120
SAS Label:
How often feel overly sleepy during day?
English Text:
In the past month, how often did {you/SP} feel excessively or overly sleepy during the day?
English Instructions:
HAND CARD SLQ1
Target:
Both males and females 16 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Never 1159 1159
1 Rarely - 1 time a month 1454 2613
2 Sometimes - 2-4 times a month 2053 4666
3 Often- 5-15 times a month 1131 5797
4 Almost always - 16-30 times a month 525 6322
7 Refused 0 6322
9 Don't know 5 6327
. Missing 0 6327