A growing trend known as “sleep divorce” is gaining traction among couples who choose to sleep in separate bedrooms to improve their quality of rest. While the term may sound like a precursor to a relationship breakdown, experts suggest that prioritising individual sleep environments can actually be beneficial for long-term health and well-being. According to a recent study conducted by the Queensland University of Technology in Australia, couples who share a bed are woken up an average of six times per night by their partner’s movements.
The research, which analysed 18 previous sleep studies, utilised movement-detecting smartwatches to monitor participants in their own homes. The findings indicated that common disturbances such as tugging at the covers, rolling over, or a partner kicking out a leg have a profound impact on sleep quality. Although these interruptions are often brief and frequently forgotten by the morning, they objectively reduce the overall quality of shut-eye compared to when individuals sleep alone.
Laura Boubert, a principal lecturer in psychology at the University of Westminster, noted that separate sleeping arrangements allow each individual to optimise their environment. This includes the ability to choose specific mattresses, adjust lighting, control room temperatures, or even select preferred scents. Furthermore, sleeping apart supports better sleep hygiene, as partners can follow their own natural sleep patterns, such as going to bed at different times or reading without disturbing the other person.
Interestingly, the study revealed a discrepancy between how people feel about co-sleeping versus the objective data. Many participants subjectively felt they slept better when lying next to a partner, possibly due to an increased sense of security that promotes more dream-like REM sleep. However, the data showed that up to 46 per cent of movements are shared, meaning when one person shifts, the other often does too. This shared disruption is significantly more prevalent when one partner suffers from insomnia or chronic snoring.
The debate over “sleep divorce” also touches on the potential impact on relationship stability. While some experts warn that separate bedrooms could lead to a loss of spontaneous intimacy and “pillow talk,” others argue that the health benefits of a good night’s sleep outweigh these drawbacks. A recent poll of 2,000 divorcees in Britain found that snoring contributed to nearly half of all marriage breakdowns, suggesting that chronic sleep deprivation can severely undermine the fabric of a relationship.
