The University of Michigan’s new research suggests that couples sleep better apart than together. If you’re looking for a restful eight-hour night’s sleep, it’s better to sleep separately than together.
This news comes at a time when many couples are ditching traditional, shared bed sleeping, and celebrities like Cameron Diaz are pushing to end the “bedroom-diet” stigma.
One in three Americans is sleeping alone for the sake of their health — and their relationships, according to a survey conducted by the American Association of Sleep Medicine. This phenomenon, known as a “sleep divorce,” is in direct correlation with the number of people in the United States who are not getting adequate amounts of sleep, according to the CDC.
According to the American Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM), poor sleep can have a negative impact on one’s mood, and sleep deprivation can increase the likelihood of conflict with one’s partner. Therefore, it’s not surprising that some couples opt to sleep separately for their overall health and happiness.
In a study of mice in Michigan, researchers found that mice often gave up their preferred sleep positions to be closer to each other, in what they described as somatolonging, a desire for physical closeness and a sense of security.
