WHY DO WE SEE SLEEPING APART AS A BAD THING?
“Media portrayals in books, movies, and stories reinforce this idea,” said Dr Chow. For example, happy couples are often depicted sleeping together, whereas a separate sleeping arrangement is a sign of a troubled relationship, she said.
In real life, that notion is also reinforced. You might be familiar with a girl friend joking that her hubby will be sleeping on the couch tonight after a particularly upsetting event.
“This results in many individuals associating sleeping apart with emotional distance, even when the decision is purely practical,” said Dr Chow.
WHO HAS TRIED SLEEP DIVORCE?
Quite a few people, actually. The ResMed survey found that globally, 18 per cent of couples slept in separate rooms. In Singapore, nearly half (49 per cent) of the respondents have done the same.
In fact, about 10 per cent to 20 per cent of the couples Dr Chow sees also practise sleep divorce. “While it’s not the norm, it’s also not uncommon, especially for couples dealing with chronic snoring, different sleep schedules or personal sleep preferences,” she said.
WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF SLEEP DIVORCE?
From the survey, Singaporeans who have tried sleep divorce reported:
- Improved sleep quality: 64 per cent
- Improved relationship: 31 per cent
- A positive impact on their sex lives: 24 per cent
