Search Results (138)

While the health benefits of pet ownership are well-documented, research on co-sleeping with pets has yielded conflicting results, often contrasting objective sleep disturbances with subjective satisfaction. This study examined the association between dog or cat co-sleeping and well-being across two age groups: adults and youths. Data were collected through two cross-sectional online surveys involving adults (n = 2675) and youths (n = 1050). Participants reported their pet ownership, co-sleeping status, and well-being using the five-item World Health Organization Well-being Index (WHO-5). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare WHO-5 scores among three groups: non-owners, owners who do not co-sleep, and co-sleepers. In adults, dog co-sleepers exhibited significantly higher well-being scores compared to non-owners (p = 0.025). However, no significant associations were observed in the youth sample. These findings suggest that while pet co-sleeping is often perceived as disruptive, it may be positively associated with subjective well-being in adult populations. Further longitudinal research is needed to clarify the causal relationship and the specific mechanisms underlying this “pet effect” in the context of shared sleep environments. Full article

Sleep disturbances are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and contribute to increased symptom burden. Behavioral sleep hygiene practices are potentially modifiable factors influencing sleep and related symptoms, yet their role in MS remains insufficiently explored. This cross-sectional study comprised 175 MS patients. Sleep hygiene was assessed using a behavioral checklist covering a regular sleep schedule, avoidance of daytime naps, limitation of evening caffeine intake, reduced evening screen exposure, and optimization of the sleep environment. The instruments included the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Higher sleep hygiene adherence was associated with lower daytime sleepiness (ESS: r = −0.18, p = 0.020), anxiety (HADS-A: r = −0.16, p = 0.034), and depression (HADS-D: r = −0.15, p = 0.047). Patients with higher adherence (score ≥ 3) demonstrated significantly lower MFIS, AIS, ESS, and HADS-D scores compared with those with lower adherence (all p < 0.05). Multivariate regression showed that sleep hygiene adherence was independently associated with lower MFIS (β = −3.24, 95% CI: −6.06 to −0.41, p = 0.025), ESS (β = −0.85, 95% CI: −6.06 to −0.41, p = 0.016), HADS-A (β = −0.67, 95% CI: −1.23 to −0.11, p = 0.019), and HADS-D scores (β = −0.62, 95% CI: −1.17; −0.08, p = 0.026). Better adherence to sleep hygiene practices may be associated with a lower symptom burden in MS. Full article

Brief post-learning wakeful resting periods and local sleep mechanisms have been proposed to support offline memory consolidation processes. Mind-wandering (MW), thought to reflect the occurrence or need for local sleep, has been linked to momentary attentional disengagement and may index transitions toward offline processing states. We hypothesized that resting opportunities administered immediately after probe-caught MW episodes reflecting local sleep need may selectively enhance memory consolidation. In a first experiment, participants learned five blocks of eight paired-associate words; a MW thought probe was administered after each block. In the MW condition, participants were allowed a 3 min quiet, offline pause after the block if they reported MW. In the control condition, no pause was administered. Consolidation was better in the MW than the control condition, supporting the hypothesis. However, Experiment 2 tested the MW-related pause effect by comparing the MW condition to a condition in which pauses were allowed irrespective of MW. Results showed that performance equally improved in both conditions, suggesting that post-learning pause effects would not be MW-specific. However, additional analyses evidenced a positive relationship between MW intensity and memory consolidation in both experiments. Our findings suggest that transient interruption of input during a declarative learning session may favor memory consolidation at wake, partially independently of the attentional state. Full article

Sleep is critical for physical growth and healthy child development. Traditionally, interventions targeting sleep improvement in children have focused on the parents. This scoping review aimed to identify and summarize the available evidence on child-focused interventions designed to promote healthy sleep habits among children aged 3–12 in healthcare settings. The review was conducted in accordance with JBI guidelines. A comprehensive search strategy was employed, encompassing databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection, Education Source, Scopus, Web of Science, the Public Health Database, and Portugal’s Open Access Scientific Repository. Following identification and screening, 15 articles were included. Three types of interventions were identified: isolated, combined, and structured programs. Overall, the studies suggest that, while sleep-related knowledge tends to improve, achieving sustained, long-term behavioral change remains challenging in this age group. Active child participation appears essential for promoting lasting results and developing more tailored, child-friendly interventions. Full article

Ashwagandha, a revered herb in Ayurvedic medicine for over 3000 years, is recognized for its potential benefits in regulating sleep and supporting overall vitality. This study evaluated the comparative effects of Ashwagandha root extract (ARE) and melatonin (MLT) on sleep quality in adults. In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 200 men and women aged 18–50 years were randomized to receive ARE (300 mg twice daily; n = 50), MLT (3 mg/day; n = 50), a combination of ARE (600 mg/day) and MLT (3 mg/day; n = 50), or placebo (n = 50) for eight weeks. The primary outcome was the change in sleep onset latency (SOL) from baseline to week eight, measured by actigraphy. Secondary outcomes included actigraphy-based changes in total sleep time (TST), wake after sleep onset (WASO), and sleep efficiency (SE), as well as subjective measures such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A). At week eight, SOL was significantly reduced across treatment groups, with the ARE–MLT (p < 0.0001) combination showing the greatest improvement. The combination group also demonstrated significant improvements in TST (p < 0.0001), WASO (p < 0.0001), and SE (p < 0.0001), whereas ARE and MLT monotherapy produced moderate but comparable benefits. Inferential analyses confirmed statistically significant improvements in objective and subjective sleep measures (p < 0.0001). Safety analyses indicated that mild adverse events occurred across all groups, with no clinically significant between-group differences. Overall, both Ashwagandha and melatonin improved sleep disturbances in adults, with combination therapy producing the most consistent and pronounced benefits. Full article

Background/Objectives: There are limited data on the dynamic changes in daily composition of movement behaviors (sleep; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, MVPA; light physical activity, LPA; and sedentary time, SED) and their associations with body weight in postpartum women. The purpose of this study was to examine associations of reallocating time in one behavior to another with body weight, at different times in the first year postpartum. Methods: The study included 86 women who delivered a singleton infant at ≥37 weeks gestation. Physical activity and sleep were measured via actigraphy in early, mid-, and late postpartum. Body weight was measured at each timepoint. Isotemporal substitution models were used to examine the association of reallocating ten minutes of one behavior (MVPA, LPA, SED, or sleep) to another, with body weight. Results: Participants spent most of their day in SED (~52–53%), followed by sleep (~30%), LPA (~12–13%), and then MVPA (~2%) throughout the first year postpartum. In early and mid-postpartum, but not late postpartum, reallocating 10 min of MVPA to LPA, SED, or sleep was associated with lower body weight (range: 3.07–4.03 kg lower). In early and late postpartum, reallocating 10 min of SED to LPA was associated with a lower body weight (4.03 kg and 1.04 kg, respectively). In participants who slept ≥7 h per day, reallocating sleep to LPA in early postpartum, and MVPA time to LPA in mid-postpartum was associated with lower body weight. In those who slept <7 h, no significant associations with body weight were found when reallocating time from one behavior to another. Conclusions: Encouraging LPA throughout the postpartum period may be beneficial for weight loss, and having enough sleep may be especially important for early to mid-postpartum. Future research examining the impact of changes in LPA on body weight in the postpartum period are needed, along with postpartum specific 24 h movement guidelines. Full article

Sleep banking, i.e., preemptively obtaining extra sleep prior to anticipated sleep loss, has been proposed as a strategy to reduce the cognitive and physiological consequences of sleep deprivation. However, our understanding remains incomplete regarding the effectiveness of preemptive sleep extension in enhancing resilience to sleep loss. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase for studies published between 2004 and 2025. Following a comprehensive literature search, we identified 12 studies meeting the inclusion criteria—seven primary experimental trials comprising approximately 140 participants, predominantly healthy young adults aged 18–39 years. We evaluated the effects of sleep banking on cognitive performance, mood, physiological parameters, and real-world outcomes. Included studies encompassed experimental laboratory trials, observational research, and field studies in occupational and athletic settings. Although the number of studies on sleep banking remains limited, experimental evidence demonstrates that preemptive sleep extension improves objective alertness and vigilance during subsequent sleep restriction or total sleep deprivation. Individuals who obtained additional sleep exhibited fewer attentional lapses, faster reaction times, and improved mood, although subjective sleepiness often remained high. Preliminary field evidence suggests that preemptive sleep extension enhances workplace safety, reduces errors, and improves sustained attention in shift workers. In athletic contexts, sleep banking has been associated with improved physical endurance and reaction speed. Importantly, this review primarily addresses the homeostatic dimension of sleep regulation (Process S); circadian factors (Process C), including chronotype, social jetlag, and circadian timing of sleep extension and testing, were not systematically addressed in the included studies and represent important limitations of the current evidence base. Overall, sleep banking appears to be a viable strategy for enhancing resilience to acute sleep loss. It confers measurable benefits in performance, cognitive function, and physiological markers, supporting its application in high-demand occupations and competitive environments. Although it does not fully eliminate subjective fatigue, sleep banking may serve as a valuable complement to other fatigue mitigation strategies for anticipated short-term sleep loss. Full article

Sleep and circadian research in real-life environments is challenging but essential. This study presents the design and implementation of a data-collection protocol in a highly challenging real-life setting over 56 days, examining both researchers’ and participants’ perspectives on its strengths, limitations, and key challenges, and highlighting the lessons learned relevant to future studies in similar contexts. Thirty military submariners completed a questionnaire after the 56-day pre-mission, mission, and post-mission data collection to assess their views on the study and each task. Compliance with measurements (questionnaires, diaries, actigraphy, and blood collections) was quantified and correlated with participants’ answers. Mean global satisfaction was 3.57 ± 0.77 (0–5 scale) and declined across study phases, with a significant change only in the post-mission phase (p < 0.001). Higher work satisfaction correlated with better global study satisfaction (ρ = 0.396; p = 0.030). Diaries were rated the most burdensome task, while blood collections generated the most polarized responses. Compliance with continuous measurements was high, but these also decreased in the third phase of the study, significantly for actigraphy (p < 0.001), although without clear predictors, including satisfaction. In this extreme setting, satisfaction and compliance declined significantly in the final phase of the study, without clear predictive factors. Having different engagement strategies for different work shifts is also an important consideration for future studies. Full article

Late-night feeding, defined in the present review as feeding after 8:00 pm when evening insulin secretion and sensitivity are low, is increasingly prevalent in Western society and is recognized as a disruptor of metabolic homeostasis. Yet health problems related to late-night feeding are largely ignored in time-restricted feeding studies that generally do not extend past an 8:00 pm feeding window. This paper proposes a novel cascade linking late-night hyperglycemia with sleep disturbances and nasal congestion mediated by renal sodium retention, increased plasma osmolarity, and stress hormone release by hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activation. The narrative describes the circadian decline in insulin sensitivity, which amplifies postprandial glucose surges following late-night feeding. Elevated glucose levels drive renal glucose reabsorption via sodium–glucose cotransporters, promoting sodium retention independent of insulin. Increased sodium retention raises extracellular osmolarity, activating hypothalamic osmoreceptors and stimulating the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Cortisol release promotes alertness, while fluid retention and mucosal edema contribute to nasal congestion and early waking. Supine fluid redistribution during sleep further exacerbates airway narrowing, increasing the risk of sleep fragmentation and obstructive sleep apnea. The present paper fills a gap in current time-restricted feeding literature by integrating renal, osmotic, and neuroendocrine pathways that may be overlooked as underlying mechanisms of dysregulated glucose control and hormone dysfunction. Reviewed evidence suggests that symptoms such as nocturnal congestion and sleep disruption are not merely incidental to late-night feeding but frame late night feeding as a risk factor with underlying physiological stressors that could contribute to cardiometabolic risk. Full article

This paper reviews existing research on infant mattress design to promote safe and comfortable sleep and proposes evidence-based design recommendations. Focusing on safety related to Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and comfort associated with infant development and thermoregulation, we examine mattress firmness, pressure distribution, breathability, and thermal properties. Since infants have difficulty turning over and possess immature thermoregulatory functions, mattress characteristics directly influence sleep quality and safety. Based on international studies, we clarify the requirements for infant mattresses and provide insights into future product development and evaluation standards. Full article

Anticipation of stressful events can impair sleep quality. In a recent study, we reported that anticipating a stressful task before a nap led to negative changes in sleep parameters, particularly at the end of the nap. In our previous study, we compared stress anticipation with the anticipation of relaxation; thus, the observed effects may have been amplified by sleep quality improvements in the relaxation condition. In the current study, we aimed to replicate these findings using an alternative neutral control condition. The data from a newly collected sample (n = 31) were compared with the data from our previous study (n = 33) using identical analyses. The results reveal an opposite pattern from our previous study: participants in the neutral control condition showed poorer sleep (longer sleep onset latency, reduced slow-wave sleep, and lower SWA/beta ratio) compared to those anticipating stress. In a direct comparison of both studies, sleep parameters in the stress conditions were highly similar across the two studies, suggesting that the divergent outcomes are driven by differences in the control conditions. The temporal dynamic changes observed in our previous study could not be replicated. These findings highlight the importance of carefully considering control conditions in experimental sleep research and suggest that even “neutral” instructions can evoke anticipatory effects. Moreover, the observed benefits of anticipating post-sleep relaxation highlight opportunities for relaxation-based interventions to improve sleep quality. Full article

The circadian phase difference between morning and evening types is a fundamental aspect of chronotype. However, results of categorizations into chronotypes based on reported sleep times show low concordance with those based on measurements of the hormonal or physiological or molecular rhythm–markers of the circadian phase. This might be partially explained by the profound individual differences in the phase angle between the sleep–wake cycle and these rhythms that depends on chronotype, age, sex, and other factors. Here, we examined the possibility of using self-reported sleep times in the condition of 5-days-on/2-days-off school/work schedule to estimate circadian phase differences between various chronotypes. In an in silico study, we determined that, for such an estimation, similarities of the compared chronotypes in weekend sleep duration and weekend–weekday gap and in risetime are required. In the following empirical and simulation studies of sleep times reported by 4940 survey participants, we provided examples of the estimation of circadian differences between chronotypes, and the model-based simulations of sleep times in morning and evening types exemplified a way to confirm such estimations. The results of in silico, empirical, and simulation studies underscore the possibility of using bedtimes and risetimes for direct estimation of the circadian phase differences between individuals in real-life situations, such as a 5-days-on/2-days-off school/work schedule. Additionally, the results of these studies on different chronotypes provided further mathematical modeling and empirical evidence for our failure to sleep more on weekends to recover/compensate/pay back/ catch up on lost sleep. Full article

Sleep is essential for child development, influencing cognition, emotional regulation, behavior, and physical health. Recent studies increasingly frame sleep as both a key developmental process and a modifiable factor shaped by, and shaping environmental risks—including digital screen exposure and psychosocial stress. This systematic review synthesized empirical findings from cross-sectional and cohort studies published between 2019 and 2024 on the associations between sleep duration, quality, and patterns and developmental outcomes in typically developing children aged 6–12 years. Searches were conducted in EBSCO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, yielding 99 records, of which 20 met inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was evaluated using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Findings show consistent associations between better sleep and enhanced cognitive performance, emotional well-being, and reduced behavioral problems. Some studies identified sleep as a mediator between screen use and behavioral difficulties, whit additional moderating effects related to gender and socioeconomic status. However, most studies used cross-sectional designs and self-reported measures, limiting causal interpretation. Overall, sleep emerge as a potentially modifiable factor influencing developmental outcomes, based on correlational evidence. Future research should prioritize longitudinal and ecologically valid designs, objective measures, and computational approaches to identify sleep-related risk profiles and guide early interventions. Full article