March 10, 2023 — “The quality of your sleep can affect your mental health just as much as your physical health,” according to Dr. Anuj Chandra, medical director of the Advanced Center for Sleep Disorders.
That’s the message of the 2023 Sleep in America poll, recently released by the National Sleep Foundation just before the Spring time change on March 12 and national Sleep Awareness Week, March 12-18. This year’s poll focuses on the connection between sleep health and mental health.
“People understand that sleep affects how they feel, but sleep is strongly linked to symptoms of depression,” said Dr. Chandra. “Healthy sleep is necessary for a healthy life.”
Key results reported in the poll include:
- 65 percent of adults who are dissatisfied with their sleep experience mild or greater levels of depressive symptoms.
- People with difficulties falling or staying asleep as few as two nights a week have higher levels of depressive symptoms than those without sleep difficulties.
- 50 percent of all adults who sleep less than 7–9 hours per night experience mild or greater levels of depressive symptoms.
- Over 90 percent of adults who engage in high levels of healthy sleep behaviors report no significant depressive symptoms.
The National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America Poll was first conducted in 1991. Complete findings, including methodology, can be found at theNSF.org/sleep-in-america-polls/.