It’s not all bad news, though; good sleeping patterns can improve closeness and have many other positive consequences on a relationship. Even better, a good night’s sleep was linked to men treating their spouses well, which helped the wives obtain better sleep, according to a study of 29 heterosexual couples. Unexpectedly, your marriage is impacted by your sleeping patterns. Even something as simple as getting up to pull back your fair portion of the covers might leave you exhausted and irritable the following day, not to mention more angry with your partner.
Although there has always been a link between mood and behavior and sleep, current research is looking at how our habits may impact our marriages. (This woman’s largest marital conflict was resolved with a custom mattress.)
Whether positive or negative, your nighttime routines can have a lasting impact on your relationship, so nighttime rituals like snoring or snuggling might influence how you interact with each other during the day. While there isn’t a single solution that works for both of you when it comes to sleeping through a marriage, finding it out together may improve your quality of sleep and fortify your bond. Take into account these six unexpected ways that your sleeping patterns may impact your marriage:
1 Cuddling may lower your anxiety.
- Cuddly pups and babies might have a point. A happy sleep beneath the same sheets can be had, according to a study. According to a 2010 study, couples who hugged in bed may feel more secure and have reduced anxiety levels. Couples experienced increased levels of intimacy during the day, which had positive effects and led to a positive cycle of feelings and restful sleep. (This is what your relationship says about the way you sleep.)
2 Sleeping with pink noise may ease tension.
- In many marriages, the simple act of forgetting to pay a bill or take out the trash can cause problems. There’s good news if you’ve ever felt that your partner simply doesn’t listen to you: Their memory loss could be caused by sleep disturbances. In a 2017 study, the performance of older persons on a memory test was found to be three times higher for those who slept with pink noise at night. Similar to white noise but with a lower frequency, pink noise aids with slow-wave sleep, which is important for memory, in addition to reducing potentially jarring sounds.
- Our brains need undisturbed sleep to form lasting memories. Getting a good night’s sleep might help you recall what your partner stated, reducing the likelihood of arguments over unfulfilled commitments and plans. This is how falling asleep with a white noise machine operates.
3 Restless nights may fuel bickering.
- Even though sharing a bed has numerous health advantages, it’s not the ideal choice for all married couples. Couples who share a bed are 50% more likely to wake up throughout the night, which almost always results in a grumpy morning. According to a 2013 study, couples who had a rough night’s sleep expressed less appreciation for one another the following day. Whether your partner is a covers hog or not may be more of the reason for your arguments than whether they neglected to vacuum.
4 Seven hours of sleep calms arguments.
- Couples’ conversations are not always simple. Maintaining composure is essential for resolving disagreements over shared decisions, such as who will pick up the kids from school or whose family to visit over the holidays. One spouse can better handle stressful conversations when they both receive seven full hours of sleep each night because they can better control their emotions. Stephanie Wilson, an Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center researcher, discovered this while examining the effects of insomnia on interpersonal interactions.
- Wilson claims that only when both partners had slept fewer hours than the suggested 7-hour baseline did couples become more antagonistic toward one another. A well-rested partner helped to balance out the argument even though the other partner hadn’t had much sleep.
5 Sharing a bed can make you healthier.
- Not only does it feel nice to sleep next to your partner, but marriage encourages you to look out for one another. Researchers discovered that if one couple had sleep apnea, they were more willing to use their CPAP machine at their spouse’s insistence, which boosted the health advantages for that person. This finding was made in the same study that revealed hugging relieves anxiety and builds connection. (These three indications suggest you may have sleep apnea, and you should get help right away.)
6 Late-night TV can make you less interested in your spouse.
- You might be surprised to see how much it costs to binge-watch your favorite Netflix show after midnight. Studies have connected a lack of sleep to a decline in desire in romantic relationships. Studies have also connected depression to insomnia, and Jocelyn Cheng, MD, a neurologist and sleep specialist at New York University Medical Center, notes that loss of interest is another typical sign of sadness. Though the precise brain mechanism underlying marriage is unknown, mood-regulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine may be involved. It could be a good idea to try getting more sleep and turning off the TV a little earlier at night if you or your partner are feeling disinterested in the relationship.
