The recent trend of ‘Sleep Divorce’ on social media.
Arguments in favor of sleeping separately for better sleep quality.
Recent social media trends highlight the concept of ‘sleep divorce,’ bringing new perspectives on having separate bedrooms.
American media outlets like The New York Post recently reported on a survey conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) in partnership with Atomic Research, involving 2,005 adult Americans through an online questionnaire.
According to the survey, one-third of Americans opt for ‘sleep divorce’ to maintain their marital life. This is because one-third of respondents reported occasionally or regularly using separate bedrooms. The analysis showed that millennials accounted for 43% of generations, followed by Generation X at 33%, Generation Z at 28%, and Baby Boomers at 22%, who stated that they sleep in separate bedrooms.
‘Sleep divorce’ refers to using separate bedrooms only for sleep while living together otherwise. On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, there are over 400,000 posts tagged with #SleepDivorce.
Most social media posts compare the before and after effects of ‘sleep divorce’ and list the advantages. Many claim that after ‘sleep divorce,’ emotional intimacy has increased, and even the frequency of sexual activity has increased. Surprisingly, even newlyweds seem to support ‘sleep divorce.’
In response to this trend, AASM recommends using separate bedrooms if partners’ sleep patterns and lifestyles differ, as it can negatively impact each other’s sleep quality.
Dr. Shima Kosla, a spokesperson for AASM and a specialist in respiratory medicine, mentioned, “Lack of sleep can lead to higher chances of arguments and negative thoughts among couples. Poor sleep quality can also lead to a bad mood.” Dr. Kosla emphasized the importance of quality sleep, especially among loved ones, and urged couples to ensure each other’s good sleep.
Previously, The Healthy, a health portal operated by the U.S. magazine Reader’s Digest, presented 11 reasons why separate sleeping for couples could be better. Some of these reasons include:
- Worsening relationships due to lack of sleep
- Deteriorating sleep quality due to snoring
- Differences in noise levels required for falling asleep
- Conflicting schedules
- Temperature differences
- Variations in the necessary amount of sleep leading to weight gain
- Mattress preferences
- Duvet disputes
- Differences in preferences for sleeping with pets
- Whether or not one partner has Restless Legs Syndrome
- Differences in sexual desires.
By Seolhee Lee (seolhee2@wikitree.co.kr)
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