Sleep affects mental health
A study from Imperial College London (Imperial College London, UK) shows that people who go to bed early have better mental health, while those who stay up late and sleep after 1am have poorer mental health.
The study analyzed data from 73,888 participants in a project called UK Biobank, of whom 56% were female. The average age of the participants was 63.5 years old and all slept at least seven hours a night.
Dr Shaunak Ajinkya, a psychiatrist at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, India, says most of his patients have problems sleeping less than six hours.
The body operates on a 24-hour cycle (circadian rhythm), which is regulated by the brain and synchronized with the natural environment. But regularly going to bed at midnight can disrupt the circadian rhythm, causing a mismatch between the body's biological clock and the outside world.
This can cause a number of symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep, difficulty sleeping deeply, or leading to chronic insomnia, increasing mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.
The impact of staying up late on sleep quality
Lack of sleep can trigger the release of stress hormones, making the body more susceptible to anxiety. Over time, this can lead to generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and other anxiety problems. These factors increase irritability, mood swings, and a reduced ability to cope with stress, says Shaunak Ajinkya, PhD.
Poor sleep can worsen depression, while depression disrupts sleep, creating a vicious cycle.
