According to media reports, the trend of ‘sleep divorce,’ where couples in the US sleep in separate rooms, is on the rise.
On the 2nd (local time), the Wall Street Journal reported that many couples in the US are opting for ‘sleep divorce,’ preferring to use separate bedrooms over the typical marital practice of sharing a bed.
According to the article, Elizabeth Pearson (42) and her husband Ryan Pearson (47), who have been married for 16 years, have been sleeping in separate spaces for the past eight years. The husband sleeps on the first floor, while the wife sleeps upstairs.
Elizabeth said, “My husband snores loudly like a chainsaw and suffers from restless leg syndrome. This often results in me waking up angry at him every morning, causing strain in our relationship,” and added, “Having some time alone makes me a better partner.”
According to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in 2023, 35% of Americans occasionally or consistently sleep in separate spaces, with 43% of the millennial generation more likely to do so.
Sleep expert Dr. Wendy Troxel explained, “For centuries, couples have slept separately. It wasn’t until the 1960s that separate sleeping began to be viewed as a sign of unloving relationship and became stigmatized.”
She stated, “Sleeping separately doesn’t necessarily signal the end of a relationship; rather, it reflects how a couple navigates decisions that may affect their relationship.”
Famous Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz also mentioned ‘sleep divorce’ during a broadcast last year as a strategy for sustaining a strong marital relationship.
She said she no longer sleeps in the same room as her husband and stated, “I don’t think separating bedrooms should be considered unusual.”
Most Commented