Good Sleep Depends On Your Mood, Feel Happy-Sleep Great!

Good sleep really depends on your daily mood. So, if you feel happy and are optimistic, then you’ll sleep great at night, a recent study reports.

Right now, sleep deprivation is a major health problem in the United States. The statistics are grim and show that 30 percent of adults in the U.S. do not get the correct amount of sleep necessary for optimal health. In addition about 70 million people in America suffer from sleep deprivation.

The result of all this sleep shortfall is reduced productivity, frayed relationships, and chronic health issues such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

 

While it’s true that you can improve your sleep by getting a new mattress, exercising regularly, and drinking less liquor, a good disposition is really the key.

 

 

Good Sleep: The Study Protocol

Researchers at the University of Illinois evaluated over 3500 participants as part of the Coronary Artery Risk Development (CARDIA) study. Good mood and optimism were scored by their agreement on a series of ten statements. Required responses were on a five-point scale, ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree.

 

For example, statements included positive ones such as — “I’m always optimistic about my future” and negative ones such as — “I hardly expect things to go my way”.  Scores were calculated on a scale of 6 to 30, with 30 being the most optimistic.

 

In addition, all participants reported on the quality of their sleep twice, spaced 5 years apart. They reported the number of hours they slept regularly and any symptoms of insomnia. Quality was evaluated by answering questions on the Pittsburgh Quality Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. In addition, participants wore activity monitors that measured the number of hours slept at night.

Good Sleep: Study Results

The results showed that participants with the higher scores slept a healthy 6–9 hours each night and were 74% less likely to have insomnia.

 

There was a strong association between a good mood, optimistic feeling and a getting enough rest at night.

 

Optimism — the belief that positive things will occur in the future — is a strong psychological asset that promotes superior health.

 

The bottom line: Get yourself a good night’s bunch of zzzzz’s.