The worse you sleep, the worse quality of life you have

• A new study suggests that the quality of sleep influences rest and personal well-being more than the amount of sleep

It has always been said that a good night's sleep is one of the key ingredients for good healthand a good quality of life. But what? What happens when, despite sleeping the hours it takes, we can't get a good rest? According to a study published this Wednesday in the scientific journal 'PLOS ONE', people who report worse sleep quality are also those who attribute worse levels of health >, well-being, happiness and overall satisfaction with life.

Research looks at more than 5,000 surveys carried out between 2018 and 2020 by researchers from the Charles University in Prague. Through these questionnaires, the scientists asked people about their sleep patterns (such as the number and quality of hours, as well as possible “jet lag”) and by different parameters of health and personal satisfaction ( such as subjective levels of happiness and well-being). From there, the experts crossed the data to see if there was any relationship between sleep and well-being.

“Better sleep means better quality of life”

The analysis revealed the best results. One of the factors that most affects the personal well-being of people is the quality of sleep (and not so much the number of hours rested or the time of rest itself). “Better sleep means a better quality of life. While it's important when we sleep and how long we sleep, people who have a Better-quality sleep also have a better quality of life, regardless of the length and duration of sleep,” the experts noted in the analysis published Wednesday.

The study found no link between so-called sleep lag (or 'social jetlag') and i. quality indices of life. In other words, those people who, due to their work or routine, had to rest at unusual hours (such as during the day or at dawn) did not present worse indicators of well-being or health than those who slept. at more conventional times. Neither was it observed. A clear relationship was found between these parameters and work stress so, according to the researchers, people are capable of adapting to any sleep routine as long as they can rest well.

Problems from not sleeping

This isn't the first time a study has pointed to problems from lack of sleep. In fact, there are hundreds of studies and analyzes published on the subject. Long-term sleep deprivation as well such as poor quality sleep, has been associated with an increased risk of obesity, diabetes or cardiovascular disease. It has also been directly related to mood disorders such as anxiety or depression. A lack of rest triggers problems with attention, concentration and memory as well as the lack of sleep. which, in addition, is also related to poorer work and academic performance.

Lack of sleep causes health problems and social isolation< /p>

Lack of sleep also causes social problems. According to a study in the journal 'Nature Communication', for example, the lack of hours of rest causes social isolation. “The less sleep you get, the less you want to interact socially. In turn, if you don't sleep, other people perceive you as more socially repulsive, further increasing the serious the impact of social isolation related to loss of sleep”, highlights the research.

In Spain, according to data from the Spanish Society of Neurology ;a, at least twelve million people report waking up tired or with the feeling of not having rested well. In addition, it is estimated that at least four million people suffer from insomnia or a chronic sleep disorder such as circadian rhythm disorders, leg syndrome restlessness, parasomnias or narcolepsy.