What is "sleep divorce" and why do some couples sleep in separate beds?

For many couples, it appears that "for better or for worse" does not apply to nighttime tossing and turning.

A growing number of Americans are choosing to sleep elsewhere in the house in favour of a better night's rest, a practise some refer to as "sleep divorce."

According to a recent poll by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) in Illinois, more than a third of people claim they "occasionally or consistently" sleep in a different room from their partner.

"We know that poor sleep can worsen your mood, and those who are sleep-deprived are more likely to argue with their partners," said Dr. Seema Khosla, pulmonologist and spokesperson for the AASM, in a press release announcing the findings. 

"There may be some resentment toward the person causing the sleep disruption, which can negatively impact relationships." 

"Getting a good night’s sleep is important for both health and happiness, so it’s no surprise that some couples choose to sleep apart for their overall well-being," she continued.

Men were more likely to sleep elsewhere, with 45% of them saying they do so "occasionally or consistently," compared to 25% of women.

"Although the term ‘sleep divorce’ seems harsh, it really just means that people are prioritizing sleep and moving into a separate room at night when needed," said Khosla in the release.

"However, if it is one partner’s loud snoring that is leading to separate sleep spaces, then you should encourage that partner to talk to a doctor about obstructive sleep apnea," she said.

There is a common perception that if couples are sleeping in separate beds or rooms, their relationships must be on the rocks, noted Dr. Brandy Smith, a licensed psychologist with the virtual health care company Thriveworks — but that’s not always the case, she said.

"While it’s true that sometimes it’s indicative of a problem, it is not always a red flag," Virginia-based Smith, who specializes in relationships and couples counseling.

The most common reasons she's heard from patients are snoring, frequent movements that keep one partner awake or wake them too often throughout the sleep cycle, mismatched sleep/wake cycles and schedule differences, said Smith.

One woman on Reddit described how sleeping apart has worked for her marriage.

"My husband and I have been married for 20 years. We have a great relationship. The last five years, we have had our own bedrooms," she wrote. 

"He likes to sleep with the TV on all night and a bright nightlight and a warm room. I like total darkness and total quiet and about 5 degrees cooler. We each just get better sleep on our own."

Another Reddit user claimed that without separate bedrooms, their relationship would have ended a long time ago. 

"We are just not sleep compatible," the user wrote. "Be it different schedules, my snoring … my desire for white noise, etc."

The person added, "When one or both partners are not getting proper sleep and blame the other one, that can tear relationships apart. It just slowly builds resentment."

One man, however, shared that his "sleep divorce" started about a year prior to the real divorce from his ex-wife. 

"Turns out, the further away you sleep from someone you just can't stand anymore, the better your sleep is," he wrote.

For couples who would rather not sleep apart, Smith said there are other options to ensure healthy sleep.

"Given the concerns I have heard, options to consider have usually fallen into one of two categories," she said. 

"One is a health consultation to see if any medical treatments can reduce snoring or bodily movements, or the couple might explore schedule changes so that sleep/wake schedules overlap more."