Sleep Disturbance in Travelers

It is important to remind that among immigrants, acculturation is associated with poor sleep quality in host countries and several factors influence immigrants, such as background of one’s culture, factors resulting in the immigration, and factors during the process of immigration.

Abstract

Sleep has biological and circadian rhythms and a complex pattern. When it obeys the biological clock, one’s body adapts to the circadian cycle. The quality and quantity of sleep are important. Insufficient sleep causes impaired attention and alertness, reduced learning, and high stress. Loss of sufficient sleep may cause increased anxiety and hypomania. Traveling through several time zones causes jet lag. In other words, circadian rhythms adjust slowly and maintain the original biological schedule for few days or even weeks. It is important to remind that among immigrants, acculturation is associated with poor sleep quality in host countries. Several factors influence immigrants, such as background of one’s culture (e.g., early life risk factors, diet); factors resulting in the immigration (compulsory or voluntary); factors during the process of immigration; and socioeconomic factors of host country (such as poor socioeconomic conditions or lack of social status).