Optimistic People Sleep Better, Longer, Study Finds

Posted on August 20, 2019

Sleep deprivation is a concern for many as it has numerous detrimental effects on the health and productivity of individuals, and this may lead to the development of chronic illnesses. According to recent findings, an individual’s level of optimism might be a factor that influences their sleeping habits, as optimistic people tend to sleep more and better.

Rosalba Hernandez, a social work professor at the University of Illinois, conducted a study to investigate the relationship between level of optimism and sleep quality. About 3,500 people from 32 to 51 years old were recruited for the study.

A 10-item survey was used to assess how optimistic a participant is by asking them to indicate the extent to which they agree with different statements on a five-point scale. The sleep quality of the participants was understood through self-reports, and a separate group of participants wore activity monitors for a period of time to track their sleep patterns.

Results suggest that participants who were more optimistic experienced better sleep. These individuals reported getting sufficient sleep, around six to nine hours every night. They were also less prone to insomnia and felt less sleepy during the day.

This could be due to the active problem-focused coping and positive mindset of optimists, enabling them to have a lower tendency to worry. As a result, they ruminate less and fall asleep more easily. Furthermore, researchers noted that optimism helps individuals combat stress and obtain a more restful sleep. However, as a biological understanding of how bodily processes differ in optimistic people has not been fully understood yet, results of the study must be interpreted carefully.


Category(s):Sleep Disorders

Source material from Science Daily