Every year, the National Sleep Foundation puts out a poll, and this year, the focus was on mental health as it relates to sleep. To dig into the connection between the two, researchers surveyed just over 1,000 U.S. adults, asking questions about sleep duration, sleep quality, depressive symptoms, etc.
Among the key findings, it was revealed that over 90% of participants who engaged in good sleep hygiene reported good sleep health, as well as no significant depressive symptoms.
The same could not be said, however, for those not getting quality sleep. According to this poll, 65% of adults who aren’t satisfied with their sleep report more depressive symptoms. And further, those who reported difficulty falling or staying asleep even a couple of times a week also had higher levels of depressive symptoms than those without sleep difficulties.
As vice president of research and scientific affairs at the National Sleep Foundation Joseph Dzierzewski, Ph.D., notes in a news release, “I’d say there’s never been a more important time to think about the strong connection between our sleep and mental health,” adding that good sleep hygiene can impact more than just your sleep each night.
