Scotland Speaks
The World’s Largest National Sleep Study
Decades of research has told us that inadequate sleep is linked to health risks and societal burden, yet the UK still lacks a concerted sleep health strategy. As such, the Scotland Speaks study was designed to address this gap by exploring the sleep health and perceptions of adults and children in Scotland. In this manner, the project aims to support and guide the development stronger public health policies, healthcare infrastructure, and national awareness for the importance of sleep.
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The Public Policy Gap
Sleep is a fundamental pillar of health, yet in Scotland it remains absent from national strategy and public health policy.
Despite strong evidence of associations with cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental health problems, sleep is still framed as an individual lifestyle issue.
2023
In 2023, the World Sleep Society recognised sleep as a global public health concern, placing it alongside diet, exercise, and mental health.
Several countries have already integrated sleep into health policy, but Scotland has yet to take action.
Scotland Speaks
A National Mixed-Methods Study and Public Mandate for Sleep Health Policy Reform
Scotland Speaks attracted significant media attention, with coverage by the BBC, the Herald, and the Universities Scotland Universal Partners campaign.
Scotland Speaks is a mixed-methods study that collected and analysed data via an online survey of Scottish adults – gathering information on their sleep habits and perception of sleep’s role in health and public policy.
Individuals filled out the survey, making the study the world's largest national sleep study.
Adult Sleep Findings
Guidelines recommend between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night
77%
of adults fail to meet these guidelines (<7 hours of sleep) on weeknights.
35%
of adults fail to meet these guidelines (<7 hours of sleep) on weekends.
%
Of sampled adults reported moderate-to-severe insomnia symptoms
At nearly half of sampled adults in Scotland, this figure highlights the need for sleep education and policy reform.
The most common barriers to sleep included:
- Parenting responsibilities
- Mental health
- Work stress
Women, on average, got less sleep & poorer quality sleep compared to men.
Sleeping Aid Use
%
Of sampled adults reported using some form of sleep aid
41.5% of this group reported using alcohol at least once per week to help them sleep*. This habit was more common in men.
28.6% Used prescription sleep medications. This was more common amongst women.
20.3% used alternative medicine therapies to help sleep. This was also more common amongst women.
9.6% Used physical sleep aids, such as eye masks. This was more common amongst women.
*These findings have led to a follow-up study on Alcohol as a Sleep Aid
Semi-structured interviews are being conducted to understand the lived experience of people who use alcohol as a sleep aid more than once a week.
Child Sleep Findings
In the online survey, respondents were asked if they had any children under 18. If so, they were asked to provide some insight into their child(ren)’s sleep behaviours.
%
...of children met the threshold for sleep problems
The most common factors affecting child sleep were…
Support for Policy Change
Despite the sleep impairments seen above, the study suggests strong public support for sleep policy change
%
Did not have knowledge of existing sleep policies and guidelines
%
Would support government funding for sleep research and a national sleep strategy
%
Support inclusion of sleep education in the school curriculum
%
Support expanding related public health campaigns and clinical access
Future Action
Where do we go from here?
Based on themes that arose from free-text responses on the survey and consultations with various stakeholders (families, researchers, healthcare professionals, etc…), a three-pronged approach to change has been been developed.
Education & Curriculum Development
A key component of improving national sleep standards is through education: systematically teaching about sleep health in schools to enact longstanding change.
This outcome is being addressed through the Sleep Well Scotland project, which has raised and secured cross-sector support to integrate sleep education into Scotland’s national Curriculum for Excellence.
Improved Access to Clinical Support & Guidance
Currently, there is only 1 paediatric sleep clinic in Scotland, and its primary focus is obstructive sleep apnoea, leaving children with behavioural or insomnia-related sleep issues without appropriate care.
This outcome will be addressed through the creation of clinical guidance materials to effectively train primary care physicians how to properly recognise, intervene, and refer paediatric sleep issues, ensuring sleep care is more equitably and widely distributed throughout the population.
The guidance materials will be co-created by expert physicians, public health specialists, and families in order to ensure practicality and ease of integration into clinical practice.
Enhancing Public Awareness and Actioning Policy Change
,A newly formed Public Health Messaging Board for Sleep and a team of University of St Andrews student ambassadors will design educational marketing materials for use across schools, community hubs, healthcare settings, and social media.
Meanwhile, as part of Scotland Speaks Phase 2, stakeholders will collaborate to create a National Sleep Health Report with policy-ready recommendations, proposed national guidelines, and health interventions. Policy round-tables and briefings with the Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland will translate these into action.
Still Curious?
Access study news & publications
Funding
Scotland Speaks phase 2 was funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC).
Page References
Gale EL, Donnelly PD. A national study and public mandate for sleep health policy reform [conference presentation]. Presented at: World Sleep 2025; 2025 Sep 5–10; Singapore.