A recent study has shed new light on how various sleep patterns connect with our health and overall well-being. Conducted by researchers at Concordia University in Montreal, the findings reveal that five distinct sleep profiles, which encompass biological, psychological, and socioenvironmental factors, can significantly influence daily functioning and cognitive health. Published in the journal PLOS Biology, the study highlights the importance of understanding these patterns to improve sleep hygiene.
In a world where insomnia can leave us feeling groggy and irritable, it’s crucial to consider how our long-term sleep habits affect deeper aspects of our health. The study identifies what the researchers term “sleep-biopsychosocial profiles,” which are reflective of how our sleep interacts with various facets of life, including mental health.
Valeria Kebets, a study co-author and manager at Concordia’s Applied AI Institute, emphasized the significance of sleep, stating, “People should treat their sleep seriously. It affects everything in their daily functioning.”
To explore these connections, the researchers analyzed sleep data from 770 healthy young adults, aged between 22 and 36, who had no prior psychiatric diagnoses. The data, which came from the Human Connectome Project, involved participants answering the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire and undergoing functional MRI scans to map brain activity.
Kebets noted, “It’s important to look at all these different aspects of sleep, all the different dimensions of sleep, because they’re related to different outcomes and they can also be improved by different interventions.”
From their analysis, the researchers discovered 118 biopsychosocial measures, including demographic information, cognition, personality traits, and substance use, allowing them to define five unique sleep profiles:
1. Poor Sleep and Mental Health: This profile is characterized by low sleep satisfaction, prolonged time to fall asleep, and increased sleep disturbances. Individuals in this group experience significant daytime impairments and heightened negative emotions, such as fear and anxiety. Poor mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, are frequently associated with this pattern. As J. Todd Arnedt, director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the University of Michigan, explained, “Bad sleep begets poor mental health. Poor mental health begets bad sleep.”
2. Sleep Resilience and Mental Health: Although individuals in this category reported negative emotions like sadness, they did not cite any specific sleep problems, a phenomenon researchers termed “sleep resilience.” This might suggest that some people may not recognize their sleep issues due to other mental health concerns. Kebets referred to this as “sleep misperception,” indicating that external stressors can cloud awareness of sleep quality.
3. Sleep Aids and Sociability: Those in this profile often utilized sleep aids for a restful night but reported higher levels of social satisfaction. They experienced less perceived rejection and fewer problems with attention; however, they struggled with emotional recognition and episodic memory.
4. Sleep Duration and Cognition: Individuals sleeping less than six to seven hours nightly reported lower agreeableness and higher aggression. This category also saw detrimental effects on cognitive abilities, particularly in emotional processing and problem-solving tasks.
5. Sleep Disturbances, Cognition, and Mental Health: This profile encapsulates those facing issues like pain, breathing difficulties, and frequent awakenings. They often exhibited signs of substance abuse and challenged mental health conditions, resulting in aggressive behavior and reduced cognitive performance.
While the study provides valuable insights into sleep’s relationship with health, it does have limitations. The sample predominantly consisted of healthy, young, white adults, many of whom were siblings, suggesting a need for broader representation.
Moreover, the analysis focused on just one month of sleep data. As Arnedt pointed out, the conclusions represent a specific snapshot in time, suggesting that individuals could shift between categories over the years. To improve accuracy, future studies could utilize real-time sleep diaries rather than retrospective reports.
Dr. Phyllis Zee, from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, noted that the identification of personal sleep profiles may aid healthcare providers in developing tailored treatments. Dr. Rafael Pelayo of Stanford University echoed this sentiment, arguing the importance of realizing that sleep is a complex subject that affects overall health profoundly.
“Sleep is a more complex issue than just how much time you spend in bed. If I can improve your sleep, it has downwind effects on your overall health — not just your mental health, but your physical health, too,” Pelayo stated.
This new research reinforces the critical impact of sleep on both cognitive function and physical health. As Zee articulated, sleep disturbances can amplify the risk of various health issues, including mood disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Pelayo concluded on a hopeful note, declaring that those struggling with sleep difficulties should be aware that help exists: “Nobody should be condemned to sleep poorly the rest of their lives.”
