Expert urges couples to go through 'sleep divorce' to save their marriage

06 December 2023 , 13:45

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It could save your marriage (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

They say a change is as good as a rest, and never more so than when it comes to sleeping with a partner, according to a recent study. The findings, from abc7.com, have shown that more than a third of sleep-deprived Americans are opting for a ‘sleep divorce’ where couples choose to sleep separately at night.

With sleep known as being essential for wellbeing, a lack of it can lead to relationship conflicts, which is why many are taking action. Alicia Roth, PhD with the Cleveland Clinic specialises in behavioural sleep medicine and says one way to save a marriage may be a 'sleep divorce.' "I hear it from more and more people that it's more comfortable for whatever reason to not share their beds together." However, she’s keen to highlight that she doesn’t always like to use the term 'divorce', as the process isn't: “always a negative thing.”

While many may assume something must be wrong in a relationship if a couple sleep apart, she says it could also be for health reasons: ”If you are sleep deprived for any reason, if you're not getting enough sleep, your mental health is going to suffer, your physical health is going to suffer.”

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Differing work schedules, if one likes staying up late, or if one couple snores or is ill it could be disruptive to the other person, leading to a lack of sleep and huge disruption to their day as a result, putting many relationships at risk as tensions rise and empathy towards a partner lowers. Add to that that getting enough sleep is important for our health and it’s a no-brainer for many.

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"It's going to be that much harder to do things during the day, and I think it causes some resentment in relationships when one person is a good sleeper, but they're disrupting the other person's sleep," she continued. She also highlights that if snoring is a big reason for couples to sleep apart, then it could be worth consulting with a doctor, as snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, which is when a person repeatedly starts and stops breathing while asleep.

Emma Rowbottom