Staying Healthy
Sleeping apart: Good for your sex life?
More couples are sleeping in separate beds for various reasons, but the practice may strengthen their love connection.
- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
A 2023 survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that one-third of respondents reported occasionally or regularly sleeping in separate rooms to accommodate a bed partner.
This may seem like a sign of a troubled relationship, but the practice is quite common and can lead to couples being happier and closer, according to Sharon Bober, associate professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School and founding director of the Sexual Health Program at Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. "Just because you don't always sleep in the same bed doesn't mean that you feel separated as a couple," she says.
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About the Author
Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
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