“Divorce from sleep is usually something that, initially, is done temporarily. But then couples realize that they actually sleep better when they are alone,” he said. Stephanie Collier psychiatrist McLean Hospital, specialized in mental health and belonging to the Faculty of Medicine of the Harvard University, to the BBC.
In the interview with the British media, the American professional added: “Normally, the reasons have to do with health… they occur because a person snores, has restless legs, sleepwalks or goes to the bathroom a lot for medical reasons. Then they move, they turn around and that bothers their partner.”
He “sleep divorce” It is the growing trend in which a couple decides not to share a bed for rest and sleep. By mutual agreement, they can sleep in different beds or in different bedrooms. According to a study carried out in 2023 by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), More than a third of respondents in the United States acknowledged sleeping occasionally or regularly in separate rooms with their partners in order to improve sleep quality.
This research reveals that the trend is accentuated among the generation that is currently between 28 and 42 years old, approximately, where almost half, 43 percent, responded that they sleep separately from their partner. The list continues with generation X, born between 1965 and 1980, with 33 percent; then generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, with 28 percent; and the so-called baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, with 22 percent.
“The main advantage is that they can develop regular and deep sleep. And getting good sleep is essential for overall well-being,” said Stephanie Collier, adding: “If a person can’t fall asleep, it affects everything from their immunity to their bodily functioning. Plus, you get angry faster and are not as patient. You can even develop some type of depression.”
“Poor sleep can worsen mood, and those who are sleep deprived are more likely to argue with their partners. There may be some resentment toward the person causing the sleep disruption, which can negatively affect relationships,” he noted. Seema Khoslapulmonologist and spokesperson for the AASM, in the report to the BBC and added: “Getting a good night’s sleep is important for both health and happiness, so it is not surprising that some couples choose to sleep apart for their overall well-being. ”.
On the other hand, some experts have their reservations. “There are certain biological benefits of sleeping as a couple. For many, a connection is generated in the dream. This is primitive in the human species. “A mother and her child, for example, usually generate this bond during breastfeeding and have similar sleep cycles so that they both rest,” he explained. Pablo Brockmann, academic of the Catholic University of Chile, and concluded: “There are studies that show that there are couples who have been sleeping together for years who manage to deepen the stages of sleep, since they are linked. “With that you improve your quality of sleep.”
Image gallery
