Snoozing: an examination of a common method of waking

Abstract

Study Objectives Snoozing was defined as using multiple alarms to accomplish waking, and considered as a method of sleep inertia reduction that utilizes the stress system. Surveys measured snoozing behavior including who, when, how, and why snoozing occurs. In addition, the physiological effects of snoozing on sleep were examined via wearable sleep staging and heart rate activity, both over a long time scale, and on the days that it occurs. We aimed to establish snoozing as a construct in need of additional study. Methods A novel survey examined snoozing prevalence, how snoozing was accomplished, and explored possible contributors and motivators of snoozing behavior in 450 participants. Trait- and day-level surveys were combined with wearable data to determine if snoozers sleep differently than non-snoozers, and how snoozers and non-snoozers differ in other areas, such as personality. Results 57% of participants snoozed. Being female, younger, having fewer steps, having lower conscientiousness, having more disturbed sleep, and being a more evening chronotype increased the likelihood of being a snoozer. Snoozers had elevated resting heart rate and showed lighter sleep before waking. Snoozers did not sleep less than non-snoozers nor did they feel more sleepiness or nap more often. Conclusions Snoozing is a common behavior associated with changes in sleep physiology before waking, both in a trait- and state-dependent manner, and is influenced by demographic and behavioral traits. Additional research is needed, especially in detailing the physiology of snoozing, its impact on health, and its interactions with observational studies of sleep.

Is snoozing losing? Why intermittent morning alarms are used and how they affect sleep, cognition, cortisol, and mood

“…The findings demonstrate that snoozing is a common behaviour, which is in line with previous surveys showing that many people snooze at least sometimes (Mattingly et al, 2022;Roitmann, 2017).…”

Effects of using a snooze alarm on sleep inertia after morning awakening

“…We suggest that future studies investigate the effects of the snooze function on other age groups and professions, including full-time workers. Thirdly, Mattingly et al [ 25 ] demonstrated that the waking method depends on the sleep duration; people with a longer sleep duration wake up naturally (self-awakening), and those with a shorter sleep duration wake up using an alarm or a snooze alarm. This study did not investigate individual waking methods based on sleep duration.…”

“…In Japan, only 10.3% of university students and 18.9% of workers reported SA [ 17 ]. Mattingly et al [ 25 ] investigated the effect of sleep duration on the waking method of 385 full-time workers in the USA. They reported that the sleep duration on natural wake days (mean sleep duration: 8.74h ± 3.77 min) was significantly longer than on days when participants used an alarm or a snooze alarm to wake up (mean sleep duration: 7.83h ± 3.54 min for the alarm and 7.95 h ± 3.66 min for the snooze alarm).…”

“…Some people use the snooze function repeatedly after the first alarm before they awaken, presumably to awaken gradually and gently. Mattingly et al [ 25 ] reported that 57% of 450 participants habitually used a snooze alarm, and they (snoozers) had a lighter sleep and a higher resting HR across the whole night and in the last hour of sleep than no-snoozers. Self-awakening and sleep inertia studies have shown that light sleep [ 13 , 18 , 19 ] and increased HR before awakening [ 24 ] effectively reduce sleep inertia.…”

“…Self-awakening and sleep inertia studies have shown that light sleep [ 13 , 18 , 19 ] and increased HR before awakening [ 24 ] effectively reduce sleep inertia. On the other hand, Mattingly et al [ 25 ] expressed concern that lighter sleep across the whole night over the long term might lead to chronic sleep loss. Moreover, an increased resting HR is associated with numerous adverse health effects, including diabetes, heart disease, and mortality.…”