The review of studies reinforces the fact that lack of sleep is closely related to mental health
EINSTEIN AGENCY – A mega-study examined research carried out over the last 50 years and showed concrete evidence that poor sleep affects emotional functioning, leading to consequences for mental health long term.
The research, conducted by scientists at the University of Montana in the US, showed that lack of sleep is associated with fewer positive emotions, such as joy and contentment, and an increase in anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, the work shows that these negative effects occur even when the person has small reductions in rest time, such as lying down an hour or two longer than usual.
“In the long term, this increases the risk of mood disorders, e.g depressionanxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder”, says sleep medicine specialist MaÃra Honorato, from the Israelita Albert Einstein Hospital.
The authors reviewed existing studies on all types of sleep deprivation and its impact on emotional state. To do this, they analyzed 154 articles from 28 countries, involving a total of 5,715 participants.
In the included work, the scientists had volunteers simulate both acute deprivation – in which they spent long periods without closing their eyes – and chronic deprivation, in which they had to sleep fewer hours than usual. The effect of so-called fragmented sleep, when it is interrupted several times, was also evaluated.
The emotional impact was measured through questionnaires with responses to emotional stimuli and tests to measure symptoms of anxiety and depression. All data were compared with a control group.
Unlike positive affect, negative emotions such as fear, anger, disgust, and stress were less consistent. For the authors, there is an evolutionary explanation for this phenomenon: these feelings have an immediate function when faced with a threat. “The fact that they suffer less from lack of sleep would be better for our own protection,” explains the expert.
Other studies suggest that around 30% of adults don’t get enough sleep. A Brazilian article highlights that factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle and being overweight are also associated with sleep problems. In Sao Paulo, data from Episono (Epidemiological Study of Sleep) shows that 45% of the population suffers from insomnia.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
