There is already some solid evidence that going to bed at a regular time is important for a healthy life, in addition to how many hours of sleep we smile in total. A new study has now found a link between sleep disturbances and an increased risk of mood swings and depression.
In research related to the direct measurement of sleep times and moods of 2,115 physicians during the first year of training, the scientists found that those with variable sleep patterns were more likely to report lower moods and obtain a higher score of depression symptoms in the questionnaires. .
Variable sleep times were actually as likely to increase the risk of feeling depressed as lack of sleep in general, suggesting that staying in sync with our circadian rhythms is as important to our mental health as have a good number of hours. closed eye in total.
“These findings highlight sleep consistency as an undervalued factor in addressing depression and well-being,” says neuroscientist Srijan Sen of the University of Michigan.
With an average age of 27 years and working during a demanding first year of training, the doctors involved in this study are not representative of the general population, but the group gave scientists the opportunity to study a large number. of people all over the world. a similar situation for several months.
As expected, sleeping more overall, getting up later and going to bed earlier, in addition to adhering to a more regimented sleep pattern, all tended to improve participants ’mood. What may not have been well documented before is the importance of normal sleep bosses are related to these other factors.
Data were collected through the use of portable sleep tracking devices, smartphone apps, and volunteer surveys. When it comes to portable equipment, although they may not be as accurate for sleep monitoring as laboratory instruments, they do allow scientists to control the habits of many people at once, over a long period of time, without interrupting their sleep. daily life. activities (and nightly sleeping hours).
“Advanced portable technology allows us to study the behavioral and physiological factors of mental health, including sleep, on a much larger scale and more accurately than before, opening up an exciting field for us to explore,” says neuroscientist Yu Fang. University of Michigan.
“Our findings are not only intended to guide self-management on sleep habits, but also to inform institutional programming structures.”
While we can all agree that the best sleep habits are good for our overall health, the team behind the new study wants to see more research on how the different aspects of sleep hygiene (the time to sleep). ‘going to bed, waking time, sleep patterns and total sleep) affect well-being individually.
The new study supports previous research suggesting that ignoring our circadian rhythms can impair our mood and increase the risk of depression over time. Try to stay up at the same time to go to sleep and get up for an extended period of time, if possible; it can ease your mood and your outlook.
Researchers then want to turn their attention to other groups of people who don’t necessarily have total control over when they go to bed, when they wake up, and how many hours of sleep they sleep with each other, like parents of young children. , for example.
“I would also like my one-year-old son to be able to learn about these findings and wake me up every day at 8:21 a.m.,” Fang says.
The research has been published in npj Digital Medicine.