The quality of your sleep can have a big impact on mental health — in more ways than you might realize. A new study suggests that the amount you sleep isn’t the only thing that counts. Adults whose bedtimes and wake times shifted a lot from one day to the next had more symptoms of depression and anxiety, and were more likely to feel lonely than people who kept a more regular schedule.
Consistent sleep and wake times help keep circadian rhythms aligned, says the study’s senior author, Ashley E. Mason, PhD, an associate professor in residence in the psychiatry and behavioral sciences department at the University of California in San Francisco.
“We found that maintaining a regular sleep schedule — waking up at the same time each day and going to bed at the same time each night — was associated with better mental health,” says Dr.
