Each population generation has certain characteristics that allow us to identify the habits and customs that influence their lifestyle, for example, how they consume, interact, and even sleep.
And if in a previous post we talked about how millennials sleep , now it's the case of the next ones on the list: the centennials.
Who are the centennials?
We could define centennials as the generation of technology and immediacy. This category includes all people born after the year 2000. They view technology as a "very native" issue, as they were born when many of today's developments were already a reality.
Therefore, a good portion of the centennials would currently be of school age, enrolled in elementary, middle, and high school.
In fact, millennials (those between 26 and 41 years old today) and centennials represent just over 4.4 billion people worldwide. Since 2020, they have combined to form the largest demographic force (59%) on the planet.
The American bank Merrill Lynch defines centennials as follows:
“They were born with a smartphone in their hands. Social media is a way of life. They communicate instantly through messages and emojis, and they don't remember that the world once lived offline.”
Rest for Centennials: Quality over Quantity
As this generation is still very young, research continues into their sleep habits. However, it is known that some sleep problems exist.
It's a trait that comes from the previous generation: millennials. According to the study "Millennials and Health," by the MAPFRE Foundation and the consulting firm Salvetti Llombart, four out of 10 people suffer from insomnia.
Since this is a school-age population, sleep quality and duration are linked not only to learning, but also to memory consolidation and academic performance.
A 2020 study conducted in Spain investigated the interrelationship between sleep quality, sleep habits, and school adjustment among centennials in an urban district in Galicia. It found that 35.7% of the sample classified themselves as poor sleepers, with sleepiness being the most frequently affected variable.
Furthermore, women slept significantly less than men, although both delayed going to sleep by 100 minutes on the weekends. However, being a good or poor sleeper did not affect academic performance. School adjustment was overall satisfactory.
The big variable: the pandemic
Sleep duration is known to decrease with age, which appears to be related to the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.
Added to this is an aspect that affected all of humanity: the lockdown resulting from the global COVID-19 pandemic, which forced people to stay home and interrupt their work and school activities.
A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health investigated predictors of stress, anxiety, and depression and found that girls were again more likely than boys to experience psychological distress during the pandemic.
At the same time, some psychosocial factors also triggered distress among young people, such as poorer quality of family relationships, increased screen time, and witnessing discrimination.
Your Body, Your Sleep, and Circadian Rhythms: Want to Sleep Well? Read This
The research also found that girls who began the pandemic with mental health or sleep issues were especially vulnerable to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Qustodio, a digital security platform, conducted a study called "Centennials: The Before and After of a Generation Marked by Covid-19." They found that, as a result of the changes brought about by the pandemic, 3 out of 10 children have suffered from lack of concentration and moodiness or aggression during this time.
Other physical and psychological changes that have occurred during the pandemic, according to the study, include sleep problems, depression, weight loss or gain, and lower self-esteem.
An increase in this consumption, which can lead to digital addiction, he indicates, comes hand in hand with other problems: insecure attachment, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and more.
Centennials, the value of technology
As we can see, the centennial generation faces significant challenges, especially related to the way technology plays a role in their work and personal lives, but also in their relaxation.
Regardless of the generation you belong to, the key constants for all generations should be related to sleep quality. And if sleep-related technology can contribute something, it's welcome.
Goodbye to nights interrupted by tossing and turning. If you sleep on your side, consider TheraSide.
For example, there are currently alternatives designed for restful sleep, based on ergonomic principles and designed to adapt to the body's contours without causing pain. There are pillows that cool themselves, others whose material allows for the sensation of floating, with a special recess for side sleepers, or even an anatomical shape for snorers.
