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Biological Research For Nursing, Vol. 9, No. 1, 42-48 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1099800407303742

Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Patterns in Urban Greek Couples

Kathryn A. Lee, RN, PhD

Department of Family Health Care Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco, kathy.lee{at}nursing.ucsf.edu

Yewoubdar Beyene, PhD

Department of Family Health Care Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco

Thomas J. Paparrigopoulos, MD

Sleep Research Unit of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Dimitris G. Dikeos, MD

Sleep Research Unit of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Constantin R. Soldatos, MD

Sleep Research Unit of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Athens, Athens, Greece

A convenience sample of 14 adults (seven couples) who intentionally nap regularly was recruited to describe circadian rhythms and sleep patterns in a culture in which afternoon naps are routine. Participants wore a wrist actigraph for 48 hr during May to obtain two peaks and troughs of activity data. Peak activity, estimated by cosinor analysis (acrophase), occurred at 1542 hours for men and at 1600 hours for women. Compared to their male partners, women had a later acrophase and a significantly stronger 24-hr rhythm, despite similar nap and nighttime sleep schedules. Men had more awakenings during the night and slightly shorter naps than did women. For the 24-hr period, men averaged 6.8 ± 1.0 hr of sleep and women averaged 7.4 ± 1.1 hr. Results indicate that Greek adults delay sleep onset at night and awaken early in the morning. Among this small group, naps are an accepted cultural behavior.

Key Words: circadian rhythms • naps • Greek culture • sleep • couples • gender


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