7.10 Sleep and Mental Health

Sleep impacts not just our physical health, but mental health, as well. People who are sleep deprived are more likely to be moody, irritable, and impatient (Dinges et al.,1997; National Sleep Foundation, n.d.). Consider how this impacts social interactions and relationships. Long-term sleep deprivation has been linked to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thinking (Wong and Brower, 2012; Riberio et. al. 2013; Bjørngaard et al., 2011). Therefore, if you’re feeling stressed or notice a change in your mood, consider how your sleep habits might be impacting your mental health. Some research suggests that sleep quality is the most important health behavior in predicting mental health and wellbeing in young adults (Wickham et al., 2020).

A well-established link has also been made between stress and sleep. Heightened levels of stress can interfere with sleep quality by making it hard to fall or stay asleep, and sleeping poorly can lead to increased stress (Minkel et al., 2012; Barber & Munz, 2011). The American Psychological Association (2013) found that adults with lower levels of stress report getting more sleep and better quality sleep than adults with higher levels of stress and about a third of adults report changes to their sleep habits due to stress (APA, 2015). Thus, it appears that each can trigger and exacerbate the other, creating a vicious cycle.