There is already some strong evidence that getting to bed at a regular time is important for a healthy life, apart from how many hours of sleep we follow in total. A new study has now found a link between sleep disorders and an increased risk of malaise and depression.
In research involving direct measurement of sleep time and the dispositions of 2115 physicians during the first year of training, the scientists found that those with variable sleep patterns were more likely to report lower moods and score higher for depression symptoms in questionnaires. .
Variable sleep times were, in fact, just as likely to increase your risk of feeling depressed as much as your lack of sleep in general – suggesting that being in sync with our circadian rhythms is just as important for our mental health as a good number of closing hours in total.
“These findings highlight the consistency of sleep as an underestimated factor in depression and wellness,” says neurologist Srijan Sen of the University of Michigan.
With an average age of 27 and working in a demanding first year of training, the doctors involved in this study are not representative of the general population – but the group gave scientists the opportunity to study a large number of people with all in a similar situation over several months.
As you would expect, to sleep more in total, to get up later and go to bed earlier – as well as to follow a more regimented sleep pattern – all tended to improve the mood of the participants. What may not have been well documented before is how important regular sleep is PATTERNS are related to these other factors.
Data was collected using portable sleep tracking devices, smartphone apps and voluntary surveys. When it comes to portable items, although they may not be as accurate for sleep tracking as laboratory instruments, they allow scientists to monitor the habits of many people simultaneously, over a long period of time, without disrupting their daily activities. (and sleep hours at night).
“Advanced wearable technology allows us to study the behavioral and physiological factors of mental health, including sleep, on a much larger and more accurate scale than before, opening up an interesting field for us to explore,” says neurologist Yu Fang of the University of Michigan.
Our findings aim not only to guide self-management on sleep habits, but also to inform institutional programming structures.
Although we all agree that better sleep habits are good for our overall health, the team behind the new study wants to see more research on how different aspects of sleep hygiene – bedtime, waking time, sleep patterns, total sleep – affects individual well-being.
The new study supports previous research that suggests that ignoring our circadian rhythms can damage our mood and increase the risk of depression over time. Try to keep the same time to go to bed and get up for an extended period of time, if you can – it could lighten your mood and prospects.
Next, researchers want to turn their attention to other groups of people who may not necessarily have full control over when they go to bed, when they wake up, and how many hours of sleep they have with each other – such as parents of young children. , e.g.
“I would also like my 1-year-old to be able to find out about these findings and wake me up only at 8:21 every day,” says Fang.
The research was published in npj Digital medicine.