"We Love Each Other, But Can't Sleep Together"... 1 in 3 Couples Opt for 'Sleep Divorce'

Survey in the United States: More Common Among Younger Couples
Sleep Divorce Due to Snoring and Insomnia... "Relationship Improves"

Recently, there has been a growing trend in the United States where married couples choose to sleep separately, a phenomenon known as 'sleep divorce.'

The Wall Street Journal reported on this trend, citing the results of a survey conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in March 2023.

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According to the survey, 35% of American adults said they regularly or frequently sleep separately from their partners.

By age group, the highest proportion was among those aged 27 to 42 at 43%, followed by 33% for those aged 43 to 58, and 22% for those aged 59 to 76, indicating that the tendency to use separate bedrooms is more pronounced among younger adults.

One couple who responded to the survey has been married for 16 years and has spent more than half of their marriage sleeping in separate rooms. The wife explained, "Because of my husband's severe snoring and symptoms of restless legs syndrome, he often moves his legs or hits my face during the night, so we eventually started sleeping apart."

They reported that since setting up their own bedrooms in 2017, their relationship has actually improved. They explained that "getting proper sleep gives us more patience, which allows us to focus on each other," and said that sleeping separately has had a positive effect on their marriage.

Another couple stated, "In the early days of our relationship, it felt natural to sleep together, but after my wife entered menopause and became more sensitive to heat, sharing a bed became increasingly uncomfortable." They now flexibly choose whether to sleep together or separately depending on the situation, and added that they are satisfied with this change.

Experts have also expressed a positive view of sleep divorce. Sleep specialists pointed out that "in the past, it was common for couples to sleep separately, but recently, a culture has developed that sees couples as more loving only if they share a bed, which has led to misunderstandings about separate sleeping." They emphasized that "what matters is not whether you sleep together, but whether both partners have communicated sufficiently and agreed on the arrangement."