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Naarmate mensen ouder worden, kampen ze meer met slaaptekort.

Naarmate mensen ouder worden, kampen ze meer met slaaptekort.
As people grow older, they struggle more with sleep deprivation.
From Lesson 409:Proportions and statistics (op de / van de)·Dutch

Questions & Answers about Naarmate mensen ouder worden, kampen ze meer met slaaptekort.

What kind of proportional relationship does naarmate express here?
Naarmate translates to "as" or "in proportion as". It is used to show that two things change at the same time or rate. Here, it links the continuous process of getting older (ouder worden) with the gradual increase in sleep deprivation. While this lesson covers fixed statistical ratios (like "one in three"), naarmate is the go-to conjunction for showing a sliding scale of proportion over time.
Why is the verb kampen placed before the subject ze?
This is due to the V2 (verb-second) rule. The entire subordinate clause (Naarmate mensen ouder worden) acts as the first block of information in the sentence. Therefore, the main clause must immediately start with its verb (kampen) to keep the main finite verb in the second position overall, followed by the subject (ze).
What is the nuance of using kampen met instead of a simpler verb like hebben?
The verb kampen met translates to "to struggle with" or "to contend with". While you could just say people "have" a lack of sleep, kampen met emphasizes that this is a heavy burden or a serious problem they are actively dealing with. It is highly common in B2-level journalistic or formal texts when discussing health, economic, or social issues.
Why isn't there an article (like een or het) before slaaptekort?
Slaaptekort (a compound of slaap + tekort, meaning sleep deprivation or sleep deficit) is being used here as an uncountable, general concept rather than a specific, single instance. Just as you say "struggle with sleep deprivation" in English without an article, you omit it in Dutch as well.

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