Turns out that bad sleep not only makes you miserable but meaner.
Dr. Alex Gileles-Hillel, senior pediatric pulmonologist and sleep researcher at the Hadassah Medical Organization, has taken common sleep research that focuses on the impact on the individual to a new level by studying the societal implications of poor sleep, which blunts empathy and contributes to a decline in prosocial behavior like helping, sharing, cooperating or volunteering.
His study of 500 participants, published in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, details two experiments: one assessed daily habitual sleep over several days and global sleep quality over a month, the other induced a one-night disruption of sleep continuity to test a causal relationship between sleep and empathy.
Dr. Alex Gileles-Hillel’s work proves a causal relationship, while most other works establish associations. Key findings from his study show that habitual poor sleep is linked to lower levels of what's known as empathic concern and perspective-taking, a single night of sleep disruption significantly reduces empathy the next day, impairing emotional sensitivity, and even mild sleep disruption, such as waking up multiple times during the night, results in a notable decrease in empathy the following day, with participants showing less sensitivity to others’ pain.
This research invites action and deeper exploration into how poor sleep could be impacting interpersonal relationships at a societal scale — an essential public health issue.
Read the full study in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology.
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