AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN SLEEP AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING
Research Question: To what extent does the modern-day first-world lifestyle impact the
psychological functioning and well-being of the individual through the quality and quantity
of sleep?
Subject: Psychology
Word Count: 3999
,Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Digital Technology Use.........................................................................................................................4
Modified Work Hours............................................................................................................................9
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................16
References...........................................................................................................................................18
1
, Introduction
The reduction in sleep health has “become a hallmark of modern society” (Gruber, 2013,
p.63). This essay explores the extent of whether there is scientific evidence that modern-day
first-world lifestyle has an impact on the psychological functioning and well-being of the
individual through the quality and quantity of sleep.
Sleep impacts how individuals “think, feel, and behave” (Gruber, 2013, p.62) ,and therefore,
is involved in maintaining a healthy adjustment of human functioning. It is necessary to
optimize human health as it plays a role in psychological well-being and brain function
(Medic, Wille, & Hemels, 2017). Sleep is defined as a naturally occurring circadian state of
“partial or total suspension of consciousness” (Sleep – APA dictionary of psychology., n.d,
para. 1). Research considering sleep as a factor of human health occurred in 1952, when
psychologists Nathaniel Kleitman and Eugene Aserinsky discovered rapid eye movement
sleep (Rosenberg, 2019).
Sleep is regulated by the human sleep-wake cycle, which functions as a circadian rhythm.
The cycle is synchronized by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) located in the hypothalamus
of the brain (Van Drunen & Eckel-Mahan, 2021), which is sensitive to environmental cues.
Light during the day stimulates the SCN to send signals to the brain to produce vigilance,
while at night, it signals an increase in melatonin production to encourage sleep (Dimitriu &
Suni, 2020). Circadian systems can become misaligned due to physical disturbances,
psychiatric disorders, and medical issues of individuals (Baron & Reid, 2014). A misaligned
circadian rhythm increases sleep onset latency, which is the time it takes to fall asleep
(Torres, 2020). Most adults need 7 – 9 hours of sleep to maintain their mental and physical
health (Singh, 2021). A chronic lack of sleep leads to physical fatigue, impaired cognition,
and psychological well-being (Haack, 2005; Goel, 2009, as cited in Chow, 2020).
2
BETWEEN SLEEP AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING
Research Question: To what extent does the modern-day first-world lifestyle impact the
psychological functioning and well-being of the individual through the quality and quantity
of sleep?
Subject: Psychology
Word Count: 3999
,Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Digital Technology Use.........................................................................................................................4
Modified Work Hours............................................................................................................................9
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................16
References...........................................................................................................................................18
1
, Introduction
The reduction in sleep health has “become a hallmark of modern society” (Gruber, 2013,
p.63). This essay explores the extent of whether there is scientific evidence that modern-day
first-world lifestyle has an impact on the psychological functioning and well-being of the
individual through the quality and quantity of sleep.
Sleep impacts how individuals “think, feel, and behave” (Gruber, 2013, p.62) ,and therefore,
is involved in maintaining a healthy adjustment of human functioning. It is necessary to
optimize human health as it plays a role in psychological well-being and brain function
(Medic, Wille, & Hemels, 2017). Sleep is defined as a naturally occurring circadian state of
“partial or total suspension of consciousness” (Sleep – APA dictionary of psychology., n.d,
para. 1). Research considering sleep as a factor of human health occurred in 1952, when
psychologists Nathaniel Kleitman and Eugene Aserinsky discovered rapid eye movement
sleep (Rosenberg, 2019).
Sleep is regulated by the human sleep-wake cycle, which functions as a circadian rhythm.
The cycle is synchronized by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) located in the hypothalamus
of the brain (Van Drunen & Eckel-Mahan, 2021), which is sensitive to environmental cues.
Light during the day stimulates the SCN to send signals to the brain to produce vigilance,
while at night, it signals an increase in melatonin production to encourage sleep (Dimitriu &
Suni, 2020). Circadian systems can become misaligned due to physical disturbances,
psychiatric disorders, and medical issues of individuals (Baron & Reid, 2014). A misaligned
circadian rhythm increases sleep onset latency, which is the time it takes to fall asleep
(Torres, 2020). Most adults need 7 – 9 hours of sleep to maintain their mental and physical
health (Singh, 2021). A chronic lack of sleep leads to physical fatigue, impaired cognition,
and psychological well-being (Haack, 2005; Goel, 2009, as cited in Chow, 2020).
2
