25 Jul Want to do Bed-sharing? Choose wise
A recent study done in Pennsylvania, has shown that there are associations between bed-sharing and some sleep parameters such as sleep duration and quality, and also, important mental health aspects.
In the investigation, they evaluated 1007 working-age adults, as part of the Sleep and Health Activity, Diet, Environment, and Socialization (SHADES) study. In order to assess bed- sharing they measured the frequency in the past month of sharing a bed with a partner/spouse, child/children, pet(s), other family member(s), or nobody (sleeping alone).
The data was obtained through the analysis of different sleep scales such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, and STOP-BANG apnea score. In addition to this, mental health questionnaires including PHQ9 depression score, GAD7 anxiety score, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Perceived Stress Scale, and global ratings for overall life satisfaction and relationship satisfaction were also used.
What they found?
Compared to those who reported sleeping alone, those who shared a bed with a partner “Most nights” reported less insomnia severity, more sleep, less fatigue, and less risk of sleep apnea. They also felt asleep faster, and they had less WASO (Wake-time After Sleep Onset).
On the other hand, those who slept with their child “Most nights” reported greater severe insomnia, less control over sleep, and greater risk of sleep apnea.
Those who slept with other family members reported more apnea risk. Those who slept alone reported greater insomnia severity, more sleepiness, more fatigue; and greater apnea risk.
Regarding the mental health component, 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, as well as lower social support, and life and relationship satisfaction.
They conclude, that sleeping with a partner/spouse is associated, not only, with better sleep quality, but also better mental health overall. On the contrary, sleeping with a child was associated with stress which might be related to worse sleep in general.
References
- Brandon Fuentes, Kathryn Kennedy, William Killgore, Chloe Wills, Michael Grandner, 0010 Bed Sharing Versus Sleeping Alone Associated with Sleep Health and Mental Health, Sleep, Volume 45, Issue Supplement_1, June 2022, Page A4, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsac079.009
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine. (2022, June 6). Adults sleep better together than they do alone. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 20, 2022 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/06/220606181217.htm
- Pictures: https://www.howtobeadad.com/2012/8418/roundhouse-kick-baby-sleep-positions