Sleep problems can affect the satisfaction of a relationship

Researchers are still sounding the alarm: Sleep is an important element of everyday life, and neglecting it affects not only our functioning but also our relationships with others. This is a growing and serious problem affecting half of all couples! It turns out that analyzing increasing relationship problems should always include the number of hours of sleep in the past week.

Although it is often assumed that sleep problems only arise after the loss of a partner or a difficult breakup, research shows the opposite situation. Lack of adequate sleep duration can lead to the destruction of even otherwise highly satisfying relationships. Psychologists at the University of California studied over a hundred couples. They examined anxiety levels, depressive moods, and satisfaction with sleep. The experiment showed that couples had the worst arguments after tough sleepless nights.

Where does this come from?

Reduced sensitivity

As it turns out, we are unable to express gratitude to our partner when we have sleep deficits. During the same research, participants were asked to record information about early awakening or difficulties falling asleep. Then they were instructed to perform several tasks. People who had not rested the previous night could neither appreciate their partner's efforts nor show interest in feelings and sensations. The experiment clearly shows that lack of sleep impairs our emotionality – we become colder and more selfish, as if our emotional battery is drained. No one can then convince us that our partner was late due to traffic or an important meeting. We will make sarcastic remarks, provoke arguments, and convince ourselves of our partner's bad intentions. As you can see, with this attitude, one is not particularly willing to make compromises, which are so important in the life of a happy couple.

No control

The correlation between sleep deficits and the quality of relationships was also studied by researchers at the University of Florida. Their experiment involved 68 newly married or newly cohabiting couples. Each couple recorded the number of hours of sleep during the week and answered two questionnaires. The first covered general topics about relationship satisfaction, while the second included detailed questions about the division of household tasks, the amount of time spent together, or handling conflicts. The results even surprised the respondents. No less than one third of marriages and cohabiting couples suffering from permanent sleep deprivation showed significantly greater problems and tendencies toward a relationship crisis than the other couples. Sleep is responsible for maintaining our self-regulation at an appropriate level. Lack of sleep results in the inability to keep our nerves under control and manage our emotions.

The extreme speed of life

There are many reasons for insomnia or waking up at night: stress at work, too many commitments, lack of support, onset of depression – just to name a few. The current lifestyle of young people is faster than ever before. The number of stimuli surrounding us is steadily increasing and, considering the rapid technological progress, is not decreasing. We need to learn to manage our time skillfully, reduce the use of electronic devices in the evening, and above all listen to what our body tells us. Many years of investment in sensory research also prove that our sleep problems result from a lack of touch – let's develop a habit of cuddling and exchanging tenderness before falling asleep. In many households, acquiring a special sensory blanket has proven to be a good solution, whose weighted filling triggers a positive subconscious feeling of security.