How lack of sleep can affect your emotions: study

 

Lack of Sleep

Lack of sleep not only leaves us tired, but it also has a significant impact on our emotional well-being, according to a comprehensive analysis of more than fifty years of research by the American Psychological Association (APA). The results, published in the journal Psychological Bulletin, indicate that sleep deprivation is linked to a decrease in positive emotions and an increase in anxiety symptoms.

Dr. Cara Palmer, the lead author of the study and professor at Montana State University, emphasized the importance of quantifying the effects of sleep loss on emotions in a society that largely lacks adequate rest time. “This study is the most comprehensive synthesis of experimental research on sleep and emotion to date,” said Dr. Palmer. “It provides strong evidence that prolonged periods of wakefulness, shorter sleep duration, and nocturnal awakenings negatively influence human emotional functioning.”

The research analyzed data from 154 studies carried out over five decades, with the participation of 5,715 individuals. During these studies, participants experienced various forms of sleep disruption, from prolonged periods of wakefulness to reduced usual sleep duration and nighttime awakenings.

The findings revealed that even brief periods of sleep loss significantly affected participants' mood and emotional responses. Positive emotions, such as joy, happiness and satisfaction, decreased, while anxiety symptoms, such as increased heart rate and worry, increased.

Dr. Palmer noted that these effects were seen even after short periods of sleep loss, such as staying up an hour or two later than usual or losing only a few hours of sleep. Furthermore, lack of sleep not only affected participants' mood but was also associated with increased anxiety symptoms and decreased arousal in response to emotional stimuli.

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Although the study offers a comprehensive view of the relationship between sleep loss and emotional well-being, it is noted that the majority of participants were young adults, with an average age of 23 years. The researchers suggest that future research should include more diverse samples in terms of age to better understand how lack of sleep affects people of different age groups.

Furthermore, the public health implications of the research are considerable in a largely sleep-deprived society. More than 30 percent of adults and up to 90 percent of teenagers do not get enough sleep, according to studies cited by Dr. Palmer. This highlights the need to address sleep deprivation in various sectors, especially those prone to sleep loss, such as first responders, pilots, and truck drivers.

“Companies and workplaces should create rules that emphasize the importance of getting enough sleep. This helps lower the chances of problems during the day and keeps people healthy,” Dr. Palmer added.

Ultimately, the key message from the study is clear: lack of sleep is not just an annoying inconvenience, but a significant factor affecting our emotional health. Awareness about the importance of sleep and the implementation of measures to improve sleep habits could be crucial for the long-term emotional well-being of society.