Women’s Sleep Habits Linked to Mood

When mom doesn’t get enough sleep, the whole family suffers. In women, there’s a definite connection between sleep and mood. Worry, stress and anxiety can interfere with sleep, and sleep problems can increase depression and anxiety symptoms. According to a 2007 National Sleep Foundation study on women’s sleep habits, the relationship between sleep and mood is bi-directional. More than half of the women surveyed in the NSF poll said they had felt unhappy, sad or depressed in the past month, and one-third (36%) had felt hopeless about the future. Most reported problems sleeping, and 40% had been diagnosed with a sleep disorder.

Biology affects a woman’s sleep habits. The NSF study analyzed sleep patterns at each stage of a woman’s life:

• Menstruation. Menstruating women slept longest, averaging 7 hours, 32 minutes of shut-eye; however, 67% reported insomnia several nights a week. One-third experienced sleep problems during their cycle.
• Pregnancy. Women got more sleep during pregnancy than at any other time — approximately 8 hours, 14 minutes per night — although 84% complained of insomnia several nights a week and 30% said they never got a good night’s sleep.
• Post Partum. Women slept least — an average 7 hours, 46 minutes — after childbirth. Nearly half (47%) reported never getting a good night’s sleep, and 84% experienced chronic insomnia, 90% related to child care. Two in every 10 women experienced post partum blues or depression.
• Perimenopausal. During menopausal transition, women got the least amount of sleep (7 hours, 12 minutes). More than half (59%) reported insomnia a few nights each week; and 43% experienced a sleep disorder, hot flashes or night sweats that interfered with sleep.
• Postmenopausal. Postmenopausal women slept an average 7 hours, 19 minutes but had the highest incidence of sleep disorders (50%) and insomnia (61%). Forty-one percent used a sleep aid several nights a week.

Because of the link between sleep and mood, psychiatric treatment that addresses both issues through cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy can be most effective. A board-certified psychiatrist like Dr. Tracey Marks with considerable experience treating sleep disorders can help you find workable and lasting solutions to sleep better and enjoy life more.