Cross-Cultural Aspects of Sleep in the Elderly

Abstract
A sleep questionnaire (SQ) was administered to 850 adults, 50 years and older, drawn from urban areas in 7 countries (Australia, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Venezuela, United States). All were functioning adults in relatively good physical and mental health. The samples were equated on sex, age, and occupational level. Of the 8 scales on the SQ, 7 showed statistically significant differences between countries, and 3 between males and females. At the same time, substantial similarities were found and are discussed from a normative point of view.