"Sleep divorce," or sleeping in separate beds or rooms, is a growing trend where couples prioritize sleep quality and address potential sleep disturbances by choosing to sleep apart, according to the Sleep Foundation. Here's a breakdown of what "sleep divorce" entails and why couples are considering it:
With 78% of couples implementing sleep divorce, india leads the world in this practice, followed by china (67%) and south korea (65%), according to ResMed's 2025 Global Sleep Survey. Couples in the US and the UK are equally divided, with 50% of them sleeping together all the time and 50% sleeping apart occasionally, according to a study that polled over 30,000 people in 13 markets and discovered a pervasive global sleep crisis.
Although it may sound strange, many people now consider sleeping apart to be essential for improving the quality of their sleep and the health of their relationships in general. A partner's snoring, noisy breathing, or gasping for air (32%), restlessness (12%), irregular sleep cycles (10%), and using a screen in bed (8%), are the main causes of sleep disturbances. Due to these disturbances, older generations were more likely to report sleeping apart.
Better sex life, stable or even improved relationships, and better sleep quality are reported by those who have chosen separate sleeping arrangements.
Experts contend that co-sleeping offers advantages of its own. The 'love hormone' oxytocin is released when a person shares a bed with a partner. This can result in a reduction of tension, anxiety, and depression as well as an improvement in life and relationship satisfaction. Co-sleeping is associated with almost 10% greater Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, according to a study in Frontiers in Psychiatry, while couples who share a bed report these emotional benefits, according to a study published in Sleep.
When asked about their feelings associated with sleeping next to a partner, respondents listed love (53%), comfort (47%), relaxation (41%), happiness (27%), and calmness (21%) as their top emotions.
THE STRUGGLE FOR QUALITY SLEEP
Sleep may suffer as a result of juggling work, family, and social obligations with putting one's own needs first in today's hectic society. According to the survey, the main causes of poor sleep include marital problems, mental health disorders, financial strains, stress, and worry.
Particularly, 69% of indians cited stress as a key cause, with high levels observed in south korea (67%), thailand (65%), singapore (65%), and germany (61%). 53% of Gen Z respondents said that anxiousness was the main reason they didn't get enough sleep.
Even though many people are aware of the negative effects of inadequate sleep, 22% of them said they are unwilling to seek assistance. There are negative effects of this complacency, such as a decline in mood, a loss of focus, strained relationships, and poorer performance at work. However, it has been demonstrated that obtaining enough sleep improves mood, cognitive performance, and general wellbeing.
With 78% of couples implementing sleep divorce, india leads the world in this practice, followed by china (67%) and south korea (65%), according to ResMed's 2025 Global Sleep Survey. Couples in the US and the UK are equally divided, with 50% of them sleeping together all the time and 50% sleeping apart occasionally, according to a study that polled over 30,000 people in 13 markets and discovered a pervasive global sleep crisis.
Although it may sound strange, many people now consider sleeping apart to be essential for improving the quality of their sleep and the health of their relationships in general. A partner's snoring, noisy breathing, or gasping for air (32%), restlessness (12%), irregular sleep cycles (10%), and using a screen in bed (8%), are the main causes of sleep disturbances. Due to these disturbances, older generations were more likely to report sleeping apart.
Better sex life, stable or even improved relationships, and better sleep quality are reported by those who have chosen separate sleeping arrangements.
Experts contend that co-sleeping offers advantages of its own. The 'love hormone' oxytocin is released when a person shares a bed with a partner. This can result in a reduction of tension, anxiety, and depression as well as an improvement in life and relationship satisfaction. Co-sleeping is associated with almost 10% greater Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, according to a study in Frontiers in Psychiatry, while couples who share a bed report these emotional benefits, according to a study published in Sleep.
When asked about their feelings associated with sleeping next to a partner, respondents listed love (53%), comfort (47%), relaxation (41%), happiness (27%), and calmness (21%) as their top emotions.
THE STRUGGLE FOR QUALITY SLEEP
Sleep may suffer as a result of juggling work, family, and social obligations with putting one's own needs first in today's hectic society. According to the survey, the main causes of poor sleep include marital problems, mental health disorders, financial strains, stress, and worry.
Particularly, 69% of indians cited stress as a key cause, with high levels observed in south korea (67%), thailand (65%), singapore (65%), and germany (61%). 53% of Gen Z respondents said that anxiousness was the main reason they didn't get enough sleep.
Even though many people are aware of the negative effects of inadequate sleep, 22% of them said they are unwilling to seek assistance. There are negative effects of this complacency, such as a decline in mood, a loss of focus, strained relationships, and poorer performance at work. However, it has been demonstrated that obtaining enough sleep improves mood, cognitive performance, and general wellbeing.
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