A study slated for presentation at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting has revealed significant findings on the correlation between improved sleep health and reduced levels of loneliness. This relationship is notably stronger among younger adults. The research found that better sleep health is associated with significantly lower total, emotional, and social loneliness rates. While the benefits of good sleep in reducing total and emotional loneliness were observed across all ages, younger individuals showed a more pronounced improvement. However, the influence of age was not observed in the association between sleep health and social loneliness. These findings underscore the importance of sleep health in managing loneliness.
Joseph Dzierzewski, the lead author and principal investigator of the study, highlighted the potential benefits of improving sleep health in managing loneliness. With a doctorate in clinical psychology and serving as the vice president of research at the National Sleep Foundation in Washington, D.C., Dzierzewski emphasized the need for healthcare providers to understand and address loneliness. “Our results highlight the critical role of sleep in managing loneliness across the adult lifespan,” he said, suggesting that improving sleep health could particularly benefit younger adults in combating loneliness.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society recommend that adults consistently achieve at least seven hours of sleep per night to ensure optimal health, productivity, and daytime alertness. This guidance aligns with the study’s findings, indicating a fundamental connection between sleep and overall well-being.
The study involved 2,297 adults, 51% of whom were male, with an average age of 44. Participants engaged in the research by completing an online sleep health questionnaire alongside a loneliness scale. The team conducted a comprehensive analysis using correlation and linear regression methods, supplemented by moderation analyses, to dissect the complex relationships between sleep health and feelings of loneliness.
An advisory issued by the U.S. surgeon general in 2023 highlighted the escalating public health crisis related to loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection, which has worsened since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The advisory noted that even before the pandemic, about half of U.S. adults reported significant levels of loneliness, underscoring the persistent and pervasive nature of this issue.
The study’s authors argue that efforts to mitigate loneliness should incorporate strategies to promote sleep health, especially targeting younger adults. Dzierzewski remarked on the intriguing and unexplained reasons why younger adults might benefit more from sleep-related interventions against loneliness than older adults, identifying it as a compelling direction for future research.
More information: Spencer Nielson et al, Rested and Connected: An Exploration of Sleep Health and Loneliness Across the Adult Lifespan, SLEEP. DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsae067.0746
Journal information: SLEEP Provided by American Academy of Sleep Medicine
