Scoop Report: Feeling listless? Feeling over-tired and fatigued? Feeling too tired for sex? A United States study has found 58 per cent of Americans are too tired for sex. That's the findings of a study by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) that concludes idleness caused by sleep shortage is a factor for connubial problems and also neglect of marital duties.

Moreover, the study found, the sleeping problems come along with a worsening concentration deficit and a rising fault rate at work.

On the other hand however, U.S. teenagers are "very interested" in the intimate practice.

The current NSF study 1500 adults were questioned about their sleeping behaviour. It was detected, that 75 per cent of the test persons consistently complained about sleeping problems such as frequently waking up and snoring. But only a few are conscious of the problem and most often it is just ignored, explained the experts.

The consequences of a sleep shortage are serious, because 60 per cent of the subjects explained, they would drive a car while overtired and another four per cent said they had already had a motor vehicle accident caused by micro-sleep.

Every third person questioned stated sleepiness had caused them to be late for work or skip it, to work deficiently and to forget about appointments.

The lack of sleep is in 77 per cent of the cases due to the partner particularly partners who snore.

The majority of adults receive only 6.9 hours of sleep instead of the recommended seven to nine hours.

For those facing sleeping problems 87 per cent of affected people watch TV, 64 per cent read and 47 per cent have sex with their partner.

More than a third describe themselves as bad sleepers and consider it as a fundamental problem for their intimate life as they are often just too tired for sex. Another 25 per cent of test persons living in a partnership said they would "get laid" less often and increasingly lose interest in sex.

Deaf Ears: Speaker On Support For Mojo Mathers

Scoop Audio: In a press conference this afternoon Speaker Lockwood Smith defended his handling of requests for support for profoundly deaf MP Mojo Mathers' participation in Parliament, and said he was "deeply concerned" by the way the issue had been portrayed.

Earlier today the Greens said they had been told they would have to fund support Mathers requires out of their own budget. More>>