How sleep trackers can actually ruin your sleep
Sleep anxiety
Ultimately, this leads to the question of whether knowing about our sleep is actually beneficial to us. After all, one of the best ways to stay awake is totry really hard to go to sleep. It sounds counterintuitive, but we see this clinically in patients with chronic insomnia, for whom excessive pre-occupation with sleep causes anxiety and low mood over sleep loss –leading to further sleeplessness.
A study published byour research groupshowed this effect can be worsened by sleep watches. Participants were given sleep watches and asked to complete measures of mood, daytime thinking processes and sleepiness at regular periods throughout the day. However, the “sleep score” given by their watches was manipulated to show either an increased or a decreased quality of sleep. The amount and quality of sleep participants in both groups got was the same.
The study found that those who were told they had a poor night’s sleep showed lower mood, difficulties with daytime thinking processes and increased sleepiness. Those who were told they had a great night’s sleep showed the opposite.
This shows us that data from these sleep trackers could change your emotional state and concentration levels during the day – even if the readings are accurate. Given people who experience poor sleep may be more likely to use sleep tracking devices, this could be a concern as it may potentiallyworsen mental health issues.
While few studies have examined this link so far, one report highlighted more patients are seeking treatment forperceived sleep difficultiesas a result of feedback from sleep trackers. Even when such complaints are refuted by a polysomnography test, watches continue to provide a source of sleep-related anxiety. Since studies have shownoveruse of wearable devices(such as those used during exercise) increasehealth anxiety and depression, there are concerns sleep devices may have a similar effect.
While sleep devices might be useful for those who have generally good sleep but are interested in tracking or establishing a better routine, people who have poor sleep or mental health conditions may want to avoid them. But the best metric for measuring how good your sleep was is to see how you feel each day. If you’re tired and struggling to concentrate, then going to bed a bit earlier each night may help you feel more rested – no device necessary.
This article byMatthew Reid, Post Doctoral Researcher, Sleep and Circadian Neurosciences,University of Oxford, is republished fromThe Conversationunder a Creative Commons license. Read theoriginal article.
Story byThe Conversation
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