There is already strong evidence that going to bed regularly is important for healthy living, apart from the number of hours of sleep we have in total. A new study has now found a link between disrupted sleep patterns and a higher risk of low mood and depression.
In research that directly measured the sleep times and moods of 2,115 physicians over the course of their first year of training, scientists found that people with variable sleep patterns were more likely to report lower moods and higher scores for symptoms of depression in questionnaires. .
Variable sleep times actually increased the risk of feelings of depression as much as lack of sleep in general – suggesting that staying in sync with our circadian rhythms is just as important to our mental health as a good number of hours of shut-eye in total .
“These findings emphasize sleep consistency as an underrated factor for depression and well-being,” said neuroscientist Srijan Sen of the University of Michigan.
With an average age of 27 and a demanding first year of training, the physicians involved in this study are not representative of the general population – but the group did give scientists the opportunity to study a large number of people. a similar situation for several months.
As you might expect, in total more sleep, getting up later and going to bed earlier – and sticking to a more regulated 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 in relation to those other factors.
The data was collected through the use of sleep tracking wearables, smartphone apps and volunteer surveys. When it comes to wearables, they may not be as accurate for sleep tracking as lab instruments, but they do allow scientists to track the habits of many people at once, over a long period of time, without affecting their daily activities. to disturb. activities (and nighttime sleep times).
“The advanced wearable technology allows us to study the behavioral and physiological factors of mental health, including sleep, on a much larger scale and more accurately than before, allowing us to explore an exciting field,” said neuroscientist Yu Fang of the University of Michigan.
“Our findings are intended not only to guide self-management on sleep habits, but also to inform institutional planning structures.”
While we can all agree that better sleep habits are good for our overall health, the team behind the new study wants to see more research into how different aspects of sleep hygiene – bedtime, waking up, sleep patterns, total sleep – affect individual well-being.
The new study supports previous research that suggests that ignoring our circadian rhythms can harm our mood and increase the risk of depression over time. If possible, try to stick to the same amount of time to go to bed and get up for a longer period of time – it can improve your mood and outlook.
Next, the researchers want to turn their attention to other groups of people who don’t necessarily have full control over when they go to bed, when they wake up, and how many hours of sleep in between – such as the parents of young children. , for example.
“I also wish my 1-year-old could learn about these findings and don’t wake me up until 8:21 am every day,” says Fang.
The research is published in npj Digital Medicine