The Impacts of Poor Sleep on Mental Health
A new study has found that getting little or bad sleep can significantly affect a person’s mood and mental health. The study, published in the journal Psychological Bulletin of the American Psychological Association, analyzed data from 154 studies conducted on over 5 thousand people. In these studies, researchers disturbed the participants’ sleep in various ways, such as sleep deprivation, sleep fragmentation, and partial sleep loss. Afterwards, the participants underwent tests for anxiety, depression, mood, and response to emotional stimuli.
The study found that all forms of sleep loss resulted in emotional changes, with the strongest and most consistent effect being a reduction of positive mood. People also experienced increased feelings of anxiety and reduced arousal. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults need at least seven hours of sleep a night to be healthy. Failure to reach this minimum has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, dementia, and mood disorders.
The study also revealed that sleep loss worsens symptoms of anxiety and depression, even in people with no known psychiatric or physical conditions. Difficulty sleeping can be one of the first signs of an emerging mental disorder, and people with poor quantity and quality of sleep report feeling more stressed, angry, sad, and mentally exhausted. However, the study also found that when subjects began to sleep normally again, they reported a marked improvement in mood.
The research also highlighted the impact of specific phases of sleep on emotional experiences. Reactions to emotional experiences were found to be more negative after the loss of REM sleep than after the loss of deep sleep. Additionally, the study emphasized the importance of prioritizing sleep, suggesting that allowing oneself time to sleep is an important act of self-care, similar to eating well and exercising.
The study’s authors also called for societal changes to address the issue of insufficient sleep, such as adjusting school start times, working hours, shifts, and access to medical care for sleep problems.
The study’s findings underscore the importance of prioritizing sleep for mental health and well-being. As individuals and society as a whole work towards addressing sleep-related issues, it is crucial to recognize the profound impact of sleep on emotional functioning and overall mental health.
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February 16, 2024 (changed February 16, 2024 | 08:25) © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED