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There is in fact strong evidence that sleeping at regular times is important for healthy living, in addition to the number of hours we sleep in total.
A new study has now found a link between disrupted sleep patterns and an increased risk of bad mood and depression.
In research involving the direct measurement of sleep times and mood of 2,115 doctors during their first year of training, scientists found that those with altered sleep patterns were more likely to report lower moods. and higher scores for depressive symptoms in questionnaires.
And changing sleep schedules were likely to increase the risk of depression, as was lack of sleep in general – indicating that staying in sync with our daily rhythms is as important to our mental health as registering lots of sleep. hours of sleep in total.
“These findings highlight sleep consistency as an underestimated factor in targeting depression and well-being,” says neuroscientist Srijan Sen, of the University of Michigan.
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With an average age of 27 and working through the difficult first year of training, the doctors participating 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 in a similar state. over several months.
And as you might expect, sleeping more in general, waking up late, sleeping early – and sticking to a stricter sleep pattern – all tend to improve participants’ moods.
The data was collected through the use of wearable devices for sleep tracking, smartphone apps and volunteer surveys. And when it comes to portable devices, while not as accurate at tracking sleep as laboratory tools, they allow scientists to monitor the habits of many people simultaneously, over a long period of time, without disrupting their lives. daily.
Neuroscientist Yu Fang says, “Advanced wearable technology allows us to study behavioral and physiological factors in mental health, including sleep, on a much larger scale and with greater precision than before, opening up a field exciting exploration. The results aren’t just meant to guide self-management habits. Sleep, but also inform the institutional planning structures. “
And while we can all agree that better sleep habits are good for our overall health, the team behind the new study wants to see more research on how various aspects of sleep hygiene – l Bedtime, waking time, sleep patterns and sleep in general – affect individual well-being. -being.
The new study supports previous research indicating that ignoring our circadian rhythms can adversely affect our mood and increase the risk of depression over time.
Researchers want to focus their attention on other groups of people who don’t necessarily have full control over when to sleep and when they wake up.
The research is published in npj Digital medicine.
Source: ScienceAlert
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