Health The majority of Swiss people don't go to sleep without their cell phone

According to a survey, the cell phone has replaced the book on most Swiss people's bedside tables. Almost 60 percent of Swiss people do not go to sleep without their cell phone. Among 18 to 39-year-olds, the figure is as high as 79 percent.

Half of Ticino residents, 46 percent of French-speaking Swiss and 38 percent of German-speaking Swiss still prefer to read a book in bed, according to a study published on Sunday by Swedish furniture giant Ikea.

In terms of sleep duration, women averaged 7.2 hours per night, compared to 7.0 hours for men.

72 percent of those surveyed wished they could sleep better. The most common sleep disruptors were high temperatures (55 percent), brooding and worrying (54 percent) and noise (34 percent).

Last week, a study by the Federal Statistical Office revealed that a third of the population in Switzerland suffered from sleep disorders in 2022. In the last 25 years, the proportion of those affected has risen by 5 percentage points.

One in four people in Ticino sleeps next to a pet

According to the survey, people in Switzerland use various methods to improve their sleep. A regular sleep rhythm (36 percent), avoiding caffeine and heavy meals in the evening (33 percent) and buying better or more comfortable beds and pillows (28 percent) were particularly popular.

The survey also revealed some unusual habits. For example, more than a quarter of people in Ticino slept with a pet. The rest of Switzerland was more reticent, with this proportion dropping to 9 percent among the German-speaking Swiss.

The survey was conducted between August 19 and 30 among 1020 people aged between 18 and 75.