engleski

Relationship status, sleep patterns and sleep quality - how are they related?

Objective: Sharing a bed may affect usual sleep patterns but sleeping with a partner seems to have a beneficial impact. The aim of this study was to examine the differences in sleep quality (SQ) and sleep patterns between people who slept with their partners and those who slept alone. In addition, we wanted to examine the predictive value of the relationship quality and relationship duration for subjective SQ. Method: The study was conducted with 449 participants (79% women, M = 32.3 years, SD = 11.37), where 56% were married or living with partner, 23% were in relationship but not cohabiting, and 21% were single, divorced or widowed. A total of 225 reported regularly sharing bed with a partner and 176 reported sleeping alone. Seventy percent of participants were highly educated, and 62.4% employed full-time. Online questionnaire comprised general questions, questions on sleep patterns on work-days and weekends, napping, estimated sleep need and subjective SQ, and the Relationship Assessment Scale. Results: T-tests showed significant differences between participants sleeping with or without a partner in several sleep characteristics. Participants who shared bed with a partner estimated shorter sleep latency (p = .005), had earlier bedtimes and wake-up times on workdays (p = .000), were napping less on work days (p = .000), went to bed earlier, woke up earlier and slept shorter on weekends (p = .000), and generally needed less sleep (p = .027). Regression analysis showed that, irrespective of bed-sharing, in those who were in the relationship age, relationship quality, duration of relationship and duration of cohabitation significantly explained only 4% of SQ variance (p = .037). The only significant individual predictor was the relationship quality (p = .001). Conclusion: The results of our study indicate differences in sleep patterns and other sleep characteristics indicative of SQ between those who slept with their partners and those who slept alone, although the groups did not differ in subjectively estimated SQ. The results showed that sleeping with a partner could be considered a protective factor for healthier sleep patterns, and that being in a good relationship significantly contributes to better subjective SQ.

sleep quality, relationship status, sleep patterns

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