‘Sleep Divorces’ On The Rise? 35% Of Couples Want Separate Beds, Survey Finds


  • New research shows 59% of Americans agree that having a “sleep divorce” helps improve their relationship.
  • More than half of respondents say sleepless nights lead to more fights with their partner and less sex.
  • One in ten adults say their sleeping struggles have led them to consider an actual divorce or breakup entirely!

UNITED STATES — The old time scene of mom and pop sleeping in separate twin-sized beds may just make a comeback, according to a new survey of 1,008 American adults. The vast majority of participants said they struggle to sleep beside their partner, with many admitting that the situation has gotten worse since COVID-19 lockdowns began.

In all, 75% believe sharing their sleep space results in poorer sleep quality, and 25% said that sleep has become even harder to attain since the coronavirus arrived on the scene. Another 35% are just about ready to take a so-called “sleep divorce” and buy a separate bed for themselves just to gain some much needed shuteye.

In fact, the survey found that about three in five respondents (59%) agree that having a “sleep divorce” helps improve their sleep quality and their relationship.

The research, commissioned by SleepStandards, asked participants what specifically about their partner is keeping them up all night. The number one answer was snoring (53%), followed by different sleep schedules (41%), and constant tossing and turning (36%). Others said they can’t sleep because their partner struggles to sleep (17%), or blamed their insomnia on their partner’s electronic devices (15%). Additionally, 5% can’t sleep due to their partner’s sleep disorder.

Besides getting separate beds, other possible solutions respondents are considering for their sleep woes are as follows: buying a bigger bed (48%), using separate blankets (25%), syncing up sleep schedules (24%), and sleeping with pets (13%). Circling back to that separate bed idea, over half (59%) said that whenever they do sleep separately from their partner for any amount of time, both their sleep quality and overall relationship improve.

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Interestingly, millennial respondents were much more likely (33%) to report frequently cuddling or spooning with their partner compared to baby boomers (21%).

Of course, we all know that getting a poor night’s sleep often spells trouble for the following day. Still, the listed consequences of poor sleep among couples were quite surprising. Close to half (49%) said they always fight more with their partner after a sleepless night and 52% said they have less sex.

Unbelievably, 10% even said they’ve considered breaking up or getting divorced after a particularly rough night. Finally, 3% said they’ve actually ended a relationship or marriage due to sleep problems.

Women were found to be twice as likely to seek divorce if their partner is causing sleep problems, and southern U.S. residents most often break up due to sleeping issues.

The survey was conducted in May 2020 and included adults who were in or have been in a relationship in which they shared a bed with their partner.

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