Summary: Adults who usually share a bed with a romantic partner report better sleep and improved mental health measures than those who sleep alone. The study found bed-sharing with a partner was linked to lower insomnia severity, reduced fatigue, longer sleep duration, and lower scores for depression, anxiety, and stress. In contrast, sharing a bed most nights with a child was associated with greater stress and poorer sleep outcomes.
Source: American Association of Sleep Medicine
New research from the University of Arizona indicates that adults who usually sleep in the same bed as a romantic partner experience better sleep health than those who sleep alone.
Participants who reported sharing a bed with a partner most nights described fewer symptoms of insomnia, less daytime fatigue, and longer total sleep time compared with participants who said they never shared a bed with a partner. These individuals also tended to fall asleep more quickly and remain asleep longer after initially falling asleep.
The study also found an apparent reduction in the risk indicators for sleep-disordered breathing among those who slept with a partner, as measured by commonly used clinical screening tools. By contrast, people who reported sharing a bed with a child most nights tended to report more severe insomnia symptoms, greater risk markers for sleep apnea, and a diminished sense of control over their sleep.
Beyond objective sleep measures, bed-sharing with a romantic partner was associated with lower self-reported levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, alongside higher ratings of life satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and perceived social support. Conversely, sleeping alone was linked to higher depression scores, weaker social support, and lower satisfaction with life and relationships. Sleeping with children most nights corresponded with higher stress levels.
“Sleeping with a romantic partner or spouse appears to offer meaningful benefits for sleep health, including reduced insomnia severity and lower indicators of sleep apnea risk, as well as overall improvements in sleep quality,” said Brandon Fuentes, the study’s lead author and an undergraduate researcher in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona.
The findings were drawn from the Sleep and Health Activity, Diet, Environment, and Socialization (SHADES) study, which analyzed survey data from 1,007 working-age adults living in southeastern Pennsylvania. Researchers assessed bed-sharing patterns through questionnaires and evaluated sleep health using established screening instruments such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, and the STOP-BANG apnea score.
“Relatively little research has examined how sleeping arrangements — whether alone, with a partner, a family member, or even a pet — affect sleep health,” said senior author Dr. Michael Grandner, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona. “Our findings suggest that who we sleep with can matter for both sleep quality and aspects of mental and social wellbeing.”
These results highlight a broader view of sleep health that extends beyond bedrooms and mattresses to include social and relational contexts. While the study shows associations rather than cause-and-effect, the patterns observed suggest that clinicians and individuals alike may benefit from considering sleeping arrangements as one factor among many that contribute to sleep quality, mental health, and life satisfaction.
About this sleep and psychology research news
Author: Sydney Preston
Source: American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Contact: Sydney Preston – American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Image: The image is in the public domain
Original Research: The study’s findings were scheduled to be presented at SLEEP 2022