Although many adults do not sleep alone, associations between co-sleeping and sleep parameters in community samples are not well known. The present study explored whether bed sharing was associated with sleep duration and quality and mental health factors. Methods Data were obtained as part of the Sleep and Health, Activity, Diet, Environment, and Socialization (SHADES) study of N=1,007 working-age adults in southeastern Pennsylvania. Bed sharing was assessed with survey items that assessed frequency in the past month of sharing a bed with a partner/spouse, child/children, pet(s), other family member(s). family or no one (sleeping alone). Other sleep health factors evaluated included Insomnia Severity Index, Brief Sleep Monitoring Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, STOP-BANG Apnea Score, Sleep Duration , sleep latency, and awakening after sleep onset. Mental health factors included the PHQ9 depression score, GAD7 anxiety score, multidimensional scale of perceived social support, perceived stress scale, and global ratings of general life satisfaction and relationship satisfaction. Covariates included age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, and education. Results Compared with those who reported "Never" , those who shared a bed with a partner "Most nights" reported less insomnia severity (B = -1.60; 95% CI [-2.55, -0.66]; p = 0.001 ), more sleep (B=0.25; 95%CI[0.02,0.48]; p=0.035), less fatigue (B=-2.24; 95%CI[-4.10,-0.39 ]; p=0.018), lower risk of sleep apnea (B=- 0.25; 95%CI[-0.42,-0.09]; p=0.003), lower sleep latency (B=-6, 32; 95%CI[-11.15,-1.50]; p=0.010) and lower WASO (B=-8.69); 95%CI[-15.85,-1.52];p=0.018). Those who slept with their child “Most nights” reported greater severity of insomnia (B=2.14; 95%CI[0.65,3.62; p=0.005), less control over sleep (B=-0.37; 95%CI [-0.59,- 0.15]; p=0.001), and greater risk of sleep apnea (B=0.33; 95%CI[0.07,0.59]; p=0.012). Those who slept with other family members reported a higher risk of apnea (B=0.44; 95%CI[0.07,0.82]; p=0.021). Those who slept alone reported greater severity of insomnia (B=2.28; 95%CI[1.28,3.28]; p<0.0001), more sleepiness (B=0.98; 95%CI[0.22,1.74]; p=0.011), more fatigue ( B=2.87; 95%CI[0.89,4.84]; p=0.005), and increased risk of apnea (B=0.24; 95%CI[0.06,0.41]; p=0.007 ). Additionally, sleeping with a partner was associated with lower depression, anxiety, and stress scores, and greater social support and satisfaction with life and relationships. Sleeping with children was associated with more stress. Sleeping alone was associated with higher depression scores and lower social support and life and relationship satisfaction. Conclusion Sleeping with a partner/spouse is associated with better sleep quality and overall mental health. Sleeping with a child, on the other hand, was associated with worse sleep overall. |
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Adults who share a bed with their partner or spouse sleep better than those who sleep alone, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Arizona.
The results show that those who shared a bed with their partner most nights reported less severe insomnia, less fatigue, and more time asleep than those who said they never shared a bed with their partner. Those who slept with a partner also fell asleep faster, stayed asleep longer after falling asleep, and had a lower risk of sleep apnea.
However, those who slept with their child most nights reported greater 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 associated with lower depression, anxiety and stress scores, and greater social support and satisfaction with life and relationships.
- Sleeping with children was associated with more stress. Sleeping alone was associated with higher depression scores, lower social support, and worse life and relationship satisfaction.
"Sleeping with a romantic partner or spouse proves to have great sleep health benefits, including reducing the risk of sleep apnea, the severity of sleep insomnia, and an overall improvement in sleep quality," said the lead author. Brandon Fuentes, undergraduate researcher in the University’s psychiatry department. from Arizona
The study involved an analysis of data collected in the Sleep and Health, Activity, Diet, Environment, and Socialization (SHADES) study of 1,007 working-age adults in southeastern Pennsylvania. Bed sharing was assessed with surveys, and sleep health factors were assessed with common tools such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, and STOP-BANG Apnea Score.
"Very few research studies explore this, but our findings suggest that whether we sleep alone or with a partner, family member or pet can affect our sleep health," said the study’s lead author, Dr. Michael Grandner. , director of Sleep and Health Research. Program at the University of Arizona. “We were very surprised to find out how important this could be.”
The research summary was recently published in an online supplement to the journal Sleep and will be presented during SLEEP 2022. SLEEP is the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, a joint venture of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research. Dream. Society.
