Those who sleep with a partner also fall asleep sooner, sleep longer after falling asleep and have a lower risk of sleep apnea. However, those who slept most nights with their baby had a higher severity of insomnia, a higher risk of sleep apnea, and less control over their sleep.
The researchers also found that Sleeping with a partner was linked to less depression, anxiety and stress scores and greater social support and satisfaction with life and relationships.
Sleeping with kids adds to the stress.
Sleeping alone was associated with higher depression scores, less social support, and worse life and relationship satisfaction.
“Sleeping with a romantic partner or spouse has great benefits on sleep health, including a reduction in the risk of sleep apnea, severity of insomnia, and overall improvement in sleep quality,” said lead author Brandon Fuentes, in the department of psychiatry at the university. Graduate researcher Arizona K.
The study included an analysis of data collected in the Sleep and Health Activity, Diet, Environment and Socialization (SHADES) study of 1,007 working-age adults from southeastern Pennsylvania.
Bed sharing was assessed with surveys, and sleep health factors were assessed with common tools such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Insomnia Severity Index, and the Stop-Bang Apnea Score.
“Very few research studies explore this, but our findings suggest that sleeping alone or with a partner, family member or pet can affect our sleep health,” said senior study author Dr. Michael Grandner. , director of the sleep and health research program at the University of Arizona.
“We were very surprised to learn how important this can be.”
