For Immediate Release
Contact: Stephanie Kohn
540-850-7827
skohn@thensf.org

Sleep Health Journal Article Highlights Association between Sleep and Life Satisfaction in Parents

Washington, D.C. (September 20, 2022): New research findings published in the National Sleep Foundation’s (NSF) Sleep Health Journal show that, for new and established parents, getting sufficient sleep plays an important role in their mental health and, in turn, life satisfaction.

The Influence of Sleep and Movement Factors on Mental Health and Life Satisfaction During the Transition to Parenthood (Divine, Blanchard, Benoit, Symons Downs, and Rhodes) analyzed sleep, physical activity, mental health, and life satisfaction in couples.

Findings indicated meeting sleep guidelines was associated with better mental health and, in turn, life satisfaction of parents of newborns. Additionally, positive mental health changes were observed in women, especially for first-time mothers, but no changes seen for men regardless of parental status.

Findings in this article complement the National Sleep Foundation’s recommendations to be your Best Slept Self™. The National Sleep Foundation recommends most adults get 7-9 hours of sleep a night to feel refreshed each day. “Getting 7-9 hours of sleep a night isn’t always possible for new parents, but there are other sleep tips you can use to help you get the sleep you need. NSF recommends avoiding eating large meals and drinking caffeine close to bed time so your body knows it’s time to wind down and prepare for sleep,” said NSF Board Chair, Temitayo Oyegbile-Chidi, MD, PhD.

For more information about sleep health, visit thensf.org/sleep-health-topics. 

About the National Sleep Foundation

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to improving health and well- being through sleep education and advocacy. Founded in 1990, the NSF is committed to advancing excellence in sleep health theory, research and practice. TheNSF.org │SleepHealthJournal.org