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Sleep is an essential part of our well-being and directly influences our emotions and mental health. A recent study published in Psychological Bulletin shows the significant impact of sleep deprivation on our mood and our predisposition to anxiety. Led by Cara Palmer, PhD, University of Montana, and Joanne Bower, PhD, University of East Anglia, the study analyzed data from 154 studies conducted over five decades and involving more than 5,715 participants. Illustration image Pixabay
Researchers examined three types of sleep disorders: prolonged wakefulness, shortened sleep duration and intermittent nighttime awakenings. Each study measured the impact of these disorders on participants’ emotions, including their mood, their response to emotional stimuli, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. The results are unanimous: sleep deprivation leads to a decrease in positive emotions such as joy, happiness and contentment, while at the same time anxiety symptoms such as an increased heart rate and worry increase.
Cara Palmer points out that these effects occur even after short periods of sleep deprivation, such as staying awake an hour or two longer than usual or losing just a few hours of sleep. Note that the results for depression symptoms and negative emotions such as sadness and stress are less pronounced and less consistent.
However, the study has certain limitations. In fact, most participants in these multiple studies were young adults with an average age of 23 years. The researchers suggest that future research should include a more diverse age sample to better understand how lack of sleep affects people at different stages of life. Furthermore, most of the research examined was conducted in the United States and Europe, which requires exploration in different cultural contexts.
Cara Palmer still warns about the important implications of these findings for individual and public health, particularly in a society where sleep deprivation is widespread. It calls on vulnerable industries and sectors, such as those employing healthcare workers, pilots or truck drivers, to develop and implement “sleep first” policies to mitigate risks to daytime functioning and well-being.
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