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The Economic Consequences of Increasing Sleep Among the Urban Poor

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Re: The Economic Consequences of Increasing Sleep Among the Urban Poor

#31

Post by barry-cotter »

buu700 wrote: post #24
Scoundreller wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The sentence before that is: "Contrary to expert predictions and a large body of sleep research". Was this study better science that disproved the existing body? Or poorer science? Or is there something problematic about sleep in Chennai? Or special about the people in Chennai? The full paper states: > An enormous body of research, mostly conducted in sleep labs in rich countries, documents severe negative impacts of…

It could also be a function of their jobs, which weren't specified in the abstract. While insufficient sleep might cause physical discomfort and contribute to long-term health problems, if their job weren't highly physically or mentally demanding, I suspect that most people could get through the day with negligible detriment to their short-term economic output after having a cup of coffee.

The average teacher’s job is reasonably mentally demanding but despite waking and starting work at unnaturally early hours (in the US and China) people do acceptably with coffee. The students do worse because the schedule is even more divergent from their natural sleep schedule and they’re less likely to have coffee or other stimulants.

Re: The Economic Consequences of Increasing Sleep Among the Urban Poor

#32

Post by lifeisstillgood »

llarsson wrote: post #6
A4ET8a8uTh0 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good grief. It almost makes me question what information is missing from the abstract since I don't know how one can consistently run on fumes without it affecting cognition, productivity or decision making.

The insane stress levels from being in their situation also affects cognition. So I am not surprised if merely looking at sleep amounts fails to explain differences.

Highly likely this is a confounding factor - and compensating for it is essentially every decent policy for the last 50 years in the West.

Re: The Economic Consequences of Increasing Sleep Among the Urban Poor

#33

Post by Scoundreller »

lifeisstillgood wrote: post #30
eurasiantiger wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The same can be said for other drugs that raise monoamine neurotransmitter levels, such as amphetamines.

I doubt that a study 'Economic Benefits of Meth use on the Urban Poor' would be looked upon so well by the Ethics Board.

Maybe do a retrospective study, but lack of prospective randomization would taint the results.

Re: The Economic Consequences of Increasing Sleep Among the Urban Poor

#34

Post by lelanthran »

gnopgnip wrote: post #22
schappim wrote: post #3

Those in the study were low-income adults in Chennai, India who sleep only 5.5 hours per night on average despite spending 8 hours in bed. The key takeaway was: > increased nighttime sleep had no detectable effects on cognition, productivity, decision-making, or well-being, and led to small decreases in labor supply. I find the result surprising. When I get under 6 hours I see a clear drop off in performance.

What does spending 8 hours in bed but only sleeping for 5.5 hours mean specifically, and how is this measured? What is the expected amount of sleep for a healthy person that spends 8 hours in bed?

> What does spending 8 hours in bed but only sleeping for 5.5 hours mean specifically

It means that the TV is in the bedroom.

Re: The Economic Consequences of Increasing Sleep Among the Urban Poor

#35

Post by tyre »

lifeisstillgood wrote: post #30
eurasiantiger wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The same can be said for other drugs that raise monoamine neurotransmitter levels, such as amphetamines.

I doubt that a study 'Economic Benefits of Meth use on the Urban Poor' would be looked upon so well by the Ethics Board.

No, but you could say “ADHD medication”, much of which is very similar

Re: The Economic Consequences of Increasing Sleep Among the Urban Poor

#36

Post by barry-cotter »

TekMol wrote: post #16

short afternoon naps at the workplace improved an overall index of outcomes by 0.12 standard deviations, with significant increases in productivity, psychological well-being, and cognition Is it possible to learn that? To me it seems impossible to do a "short nap". Even when I feel low energy, I don't feel like I could just lay down and sleep during the day.

> Is it possible to learn that? To me it seems impossible to do a "short nap".

Yes. If you have to look after an infant you too may discover how wonderful 12 minutes, or seven, of closing your eyes can be. Did I sleep? Maybe, but I definitely feel better.

Re: The Economic Consequences of Increasing Sleep Among the Urban Poor

#38

Post by dtjohnnyb »

TekMol wrote: post #16

short afternoon naps at the workplace improved an overall index of outcomes by 0.12 standard deviations, with significant increases in productivity, psychological well-being, and cognition Is it possible to learn that? To me it seems impossible to do a "short nap". Even when I feel low energy, I don't feel like I could just lay down and sleep during the day.

I was in the same boat until I had a baby who was a _terrible_ sleeper during the night. Once I was down to 4-5 hours sleep a night, napping during the day was heaven!

Sometimes I'd have had too much coffee or been overstimulated through work or something, I found [these tips from the military](https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/the-trick-soldiers-use-...) really helpful. Even now, I pretty much only need to relax my jaw and do a few rounds of 4-7-8 breathing and I can have a nap on demand!

Re: The Economic Consequences of Increasing Sleep Among the Urban Poor

#39

Post by Teknoman117 »

lifeisstillgood wrote: post #30
eurasiantiger wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The same can be said for other drugs that raise monoamine neurotransmitter levels, such as amphetamines.

I doubt that a study 'Economic Benefits of Meth use on the Urban Poor' would be looked upon so well by the Ethics Board.

Many countries in the WW2 era sold amphetamine based drugs as antidepressants, for "creating the right attitude", making your wife focus on housework, etc. (and other rather disturbing things). Essentially, drugging workers doing low-skill tasks to make them more cooperative or productive or something.

I wonder how much research was done at the time and has been done in retrospect.

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