JABAR EKSPRES – Quality sleep can help prevent mental health disorders when people are faced with stressful situations or experiences.
This finding was revealed in a study conducted by a team of researchers at the University of York. The study involved more than 600 participants during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
As reported by the Science Daily page, Saturday (7/26/2023), the pandemic that occurred in 2020 was a stressful period that triggered prolonged stress in quite a lot of people.
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“We found that better sleep quality is associated with lower depression and anxiety symptoms,” said researcher and PhD student from the University of York, Emma Sullivan.
Meanwhile, PhD Supervisor from the Department of Psychology at the University of York, Dr. Scott Cairney explained that the benefits of quality sleep can work optimally when balanced with good coping strategies.
One example of a coping strategy, continued Scott, is the ability to see the positive side of stressful situations.
“Sleep plays a very important role in chronic (long-term) stress management and can maintain well-being for a long time, reducing the occurrence of symptoms of depression and anxiety,” said Scott.
According to the Sleep Foundation, quality sleep can be recognized by being able to fall asleep in less than 30 minutes after lying in bed, not waking up throughout the night, sleep duration according to recommendations, and waking up energized and refreshed.
For people who have not gotten quality sleep, there are several efforts that can be made to improve it. Here are some ways to improve it:
1. Avoid exposure to television, computers, or gadgets at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
2. Make the bedroom atmosphere dark, avoid noise, and have a cool temperature.
3. Always go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, including on holidays.
