What is Sleep Divorce? Sleep divorce refers to couples choosing to sleep in separate beds or rooms to improve their health and sleep quality. As more partners recognize how vital rest is for personal well-being and relationship harmony, the trend is rapidly gaining traction.
A global study on the growing sleep crisis shows that over 70% of Indian couples now sleep apart to enhance their sleep quality. India leads the world in this practice, with 78% of couples opting for sleep divorce, followed by China (67%) and South Korea (65%), according to ResMed’s 2025 Global Sleep Survey. In contrast, couples in the US and UK remain evenly split—50% always sleep together, while the other 50% occasionally sleep apart. The study surveyed over 30,000 people across 13 countries. This highlights a widespread global sleep crisis fueled by increasing awareness of sleep’s importance.
Sleep Cycle:
Although it may sound strange, many people now consider sleeping apart to be essential for improving the quality of their sleep and the health of their relationships in general. A partner’s snoring, noisy breathing, or gasping for air (32%), restlessness (12%), irregular sleep cycles (10%), and using a screen in bed (8%) are the main causes of sleep disturbances. Due to these disturbances, older generations were more likely to report sleeping apart. Better sex life, stable or even improved relationships, and better sleep quality are reported by those who have chosen separate sleeping arrangements.
Co-sleeping Advantages:
Experts argue that co-sleeping comes with its own set of benefits. Sharing a bed with a partner triggers the release of the “love hormone” oxytocin, which can help reduce tension, anxiety, and depression while boosting life and relationship satisfaction. A study in Frontiers in Psychiatry found that co-sleeping increases Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep by nearly 10%. Another study in Sleep reported that couples who share a bed experience these emotional benefits. When asked how they feel sleeping next to a partner, respondents most commonly described emotions such as love (53%), comfort (47%), relaxation (41%), happiness (27%), and peacefulness (21%).
Struggle for Quality Sleep:
Sleep may suffer as a result of juggling work, family, and social obligations with putting one’s own needs first in today’s hectic environment. According to the survey, the main causes of poor sleep include marital problems, mental health disorders, financial strains, stress, and worry. Particularly, 69% of Indians cited stress as a key influence, with high levels observed in South Korea (67%), Thailand (65%), Singapore (65%), and Germany (61%). 53% of Gen Z respondents said that anxiety was the main reason they didn’t get enough sleep.
Even though many people are aware of the negative effects of inadequate sleep, 22% of them said they are unwilling to seek assistance. There are negative effects of this complacency, such as a decline in mood, a loss of focus, strained relationships, and poorer performance at work. However, it has been demonstrated that obtaining enough sleep improves mood, cognitive performance, and general well-being.
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