How does sleep affect mental health?

The quantity and quality of sleep affect many aspects of health. Like a healthy diet and physical activity, sleep has significant effects on the body's healthy functioning and the prevention of many diseases.

Quality sleep deficiency can lead to tiredness, nervousness, moodiness, lack of concentration… With only these aspects, sleep can significantly affect all aspects of life, like school, work, interpersonal relationships, and, unfortunately, too often driving.

Sleep deficiency can also lead to problems with learning, concentration, reacting to situations, decision-making, memory, and regulating emotions and behaviors.

Being unable to sleep is common. Research has shown that around one-third of the general population has experienced symptoms of insomnia, like problems falling and staying asleep, which lead to sleep deficiency.

Mental health problems, as well as many mental disorders, often lead to disturbed sleep. Studies suggest that the opposite is possible as well; lousy sleep affects the development, maintenance, and worsening of mental health problems.

Studies show that people with insomnia are from 10 to 17 times more likely to experience clinically significant symptoms of depression and anxiety. Another study has shown that people with insomnia have double the chances of developing a depressive disorder than those without.

Some other disorders associated with lack of sleep are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, and psychotic episodes and symptoms like delusions and hallucinations.

Other sleep problems like sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disorder, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, sleepwalking, and nightmares are all significantly more present in people who have mental health problems.

Sleeping has many health benefits, some of which include improvements in problem-solving skills, learning, attention, decision-making, and creativity.

Current studies support that specific sleep improvement treatments and improved sleep lead to mental health improvements in a broad population sample. Problems regarding mental and physical health are often intertwined and can worsen each other. It is essential to understand that the benefits of improved sleep on mental health persist even in the presence of physical comorbidities. Improvements in sleep, of course, also affect the betterment of many physical aspects of health, like tiredness, chronic pain, and general quality of life.

Disturbed sleep can be a predictor of potential mental health problems. Studies show that improved sleep can have significantly favorable effects on future mental health states as a preventive method.

Written by: Bachelor of Psychology, Aleksa Holcer

This text is intended for informational purposes only. If you experience any symptoms, it is recommended that you seek advice from your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional.

How sleep affects your health | NHLBI, NIH. (2022, June 15). NHLBI, NIH. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation/health-effects

Scott, A. J., Webb, T. L., James, M. M., Rowse, G., & Weich, S. (2021). Improving sleep quality leads to better mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 60, 101556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101556