CUDDLING AT NIGHT MAY HELP COUPLES REDUCE STRESS, ACCORDING TO A STUDY
A good night’s sleep is key to our well-being, and recent research reveals that sharing a bed with a loved one may offer additional emotional benefits. Josh Novak, a psychologist, and Kaleigh Miller, a researcher in cognitive development at Auburn University in Alabama, discovered that sleeping next to a spouse, especially in close quarters, can dramatically reduce stress. According to their findings, a relationship's sense of attachment and emotional security is strengthened when stress levels are lower.
143 heterosexual couples, with men averaging 43 and women 40, who share a bed were included in the study. On average, the couples had been together for 13 years, but one particularly remarkable pair had almost reached their 30-year mark. The researchers also included other significant aspects, such as whether children or pets frequently shared the bed, to ensure the accuracy of the results. This made it easier for them to concentrate solely on the effects of sleeping postures in the early hours of the morning.
Even though each individual in the couple had their preferred sleeping position, they often prioritised being closer to their partner as they drifted off to sleep. The researchers explain, “This finding may suggest that individual sleep position may not be a driver or a factor in how a couple chooses to cuddle at night and rather is driven by a desire or need to be close to one’s partner.”
The study discovered that partners experienced less stress and a stronger emotional bond when they slept in closer, more intimate postures, such as facing one another, spooning, or entwining limbs. It's crucial to remember that the study has several limitations, though. It only examined a single instance, at the beginning of the evening, and depended more on the experiences of couples than on first-hand observation. We are unable to confirm that cuddling makes people feel safer. Indeed, the researchers think it probably goes both ways and that couples may snuggle more when they feel safe.
However, choosing to stay physically close at night doesn’t necessarily guarantee a more restful sleep. The researchers suggest, “Perhaps intimate positions are disruptive of sleep because sustaining long cuddling positions may be uncomfortable, may increase body temperature, one or both partners have sleep problems or disorders, or a myriad of other reasons.”
Even if you both roll over into your regular sleeping locations thereafter, the researchers concluded that a brief cuddle while you're falling asleep might be all it takes to achieve those emotional benefits—something that many of us have probably previously experienced.
There are many additional ways to lower stress and enhance your health if you don't have a significant other to sleep next to. For instance, petting a dog can provide us with the same advantages as interacting with people, and taking a quick stroll in the outdoors can significantly reduce stress.