Is it healthy to sleep in the same bed with your partner? Scientists explain

Getting enough sleep is important for our mental and physical health at any time of the year, but research suggests it may be even more important in the winter.

A study published in the journal Frontiers in February 2023 found that people sleep more in winter and spend longer periods in restorative REM sleep. Why we need more sleep in winter is not yet fully understood, but scientists believe that less sunlight and lower temperatures are likely contributing factors.

— Due to changes in daylight hours and increased melatonin production, we often feel sleepy in winter, so a good sleep routine is essential to feel more rested, says Habinakova. — Lack of sleep may worsen or even lead to symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.

For some people, sleeping with a partner can actually improve sleep quality. However, for many other people this is not the case.

“There are many individual factors that can contribute to sleep concordance between spouses,” Wendy Troxel, a senior behavioral scientist at the Rand Corporation and a professor at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Utah, told Newsweek. — If one partner tends to be a very light sleeper, the couple may face more challenges when sharing a bed. Even the slightest sounds or movements can disturb their sleep.

— If you have a partner who snores, tosses, steals the sheets, has different sleep-wake patterns than you do — for example, he’s an owl and you’re a lark — or engages in other sleep-disturbing behaviors, like scrolling or insisting on leaving the TV on all night, these are factors that could It may disturb your sleep and may lead to conflicts in your relationship!

Many studies have shown that sleep deprivation negatively affects our ability to control emotions, attention, and judgment, which can affect a relationship in the long term.

– Poor sleep patterns can cause irritability, mood swings, and poor communication and problem-solving, all of which can put a strain on your relationship, Habinakova said. — So, if you find yourself losing sleep due to yours or your partner’s sleeping habits, sleeping apart from each other may be the perfect way to help both of you feel more rested.

“Sleep divorce” doesn’t necessarily require a complete ban on co-sleeping, clinical psychologist and sleep specialist Michael Breus, founder of Sleep Doctor, told Newsweek.

“In many cases, I deal with a situation where one person sleeps four nights a week alone and then sleeps with their partner on the weekends,” Breus said. Sleeping in the same bed does not affect the strength of your relationship.

Sleeping in separate beds in the same bedroom is also an option if you still want to sleep in the same room with your partner. “This type of sleep divorce is perfect for anyone who suffers from their partner’s anxiety in bed,” Habinakova said. — However, it may not be suitable for couples with different sleeping styles or if snoring is a problem.

If you still prefer to sleep in the same bed with your partner, Prius has some simple tips:

Text published on Newsweek.com. Address and leadership from the editorial office of “Newsweek Polska”.