You can feel young again.
A recent study reveals the profound impact of sleep quality on one’s perception of age. Researchers found that enjoying a restful night’s sleep can leave individuals feeling significantly younger, while poor sleep quality can lead to feeling older and less vibrant.
The study, conducted by researchers from Stockholm University’s Department of Psychology, surveyed 429 individuals aged 18 to 70 about their perceived age, sleep habits, and levels of daytime sleepiness. Results indicated that experiencing sufficient sleep to wake up feeling extremely sharp was associated with feeling four years younger than one’s actual age. Conversely, extreme sleepiness was linked to feeling six years older than one’s chronological age, adding up to a striking 10-year difference in perceived age.
Further analysis revealed that for each night of inadequate sleep, individuals reported feeling approximately three months older than their real age, highlighting the cumulative effect of sleep deprivation on subjective aging.
To investigate whether quality sleep could indeed contribute to a more youthful sense of age, researchers conducted an experiment involving 186 participants aged 18 to 46. Participants were instructed to limit their sleep to just four hours in bed for two nights and, on another occasion, to enjoy nine hours of sleep for two nights.
Following the sleep manipulation, participants reported feeling an average of 4.4 years older after the sleep-restricted nights compared to when they obtained sufficient sleep.
The findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, underscore the importance of prioritizing quality sleep for maintaining a youthful perception of age. Lead researcher Leonie Balter emphasized that safeguarding sleep is crucial not only for psychological well-being but also for promoting an active lifestyle and encouraging behaviors conducive to overall health. As feeling young and alert are key motivators for engagement in physical activity, preserving adequate sleep may serve as a cornerstone for healthy aging.
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