Is your sleep really “good”? A new study published in the scientific journal PLOS Biology reveals five different sleep profiles and points to surprising connections between sleep quality and our physical, mental, and even social health.
Although sleep is a basic daily activity, science still doesn’t fully understand it. But a new study conducted on hundreds of healthy young adults reveals fascinating links between different types of sleep and brain, emotional, and behavioral functioning.
The researchers analyzed data from 770 healthy young participants as part of the Human Connectome Project – which includes advanced brain scans and self-reports on sleep, health, and lifestyle. Through deep analysis, they were able to identify five “sleep profiles” – recurring patterns of sleep quality directly linked to brain functioning patterns and various health outcomes.
According to the researchers, the different profiles are reflected not only in behavior but also in brain activity and wiring – indicating that sleep affects us on a particularly deep level.
The 5 sleep profiles and what they say about you
1. The difficult mental profile: Poor sleep – poor mental health
People in this profile have trouble falling asleep, are dissatisfied with their sleep quality, and experience high levels of anxiety, depression, stress, anger, and fear. This likely reflects a direct connection between poor sleep quality and the onset or worsening of mental health issues.
2. The sensitive mind profile – despite normal sleep
This group actually sleeps well – but still experiences mental difficulties such as high levels of ADHD, sadness, stress, and irritability. Researchers believe these problems stem from other sources – not necessarily from sleep itself.
3. The medication profile: Sleeping with pills – but paying the price
Those in this profile rely on sleeping pills and report satisfaction with their social relationships. However, they experience impairments in visual memory, abstract thinking, and spatial orientation skills. Regular use of sleeping pills – even if helpful in the short term – may harm cognitive functions.
4. Sleeping too little – and it affects emotions
In this profile, participants reported few hours of sleep, which was linked to increased aggressive behavior and difficulties in emotional processing, language, and logical thinking.
5. Waking up at night – with wide-ranging effects
The fifth profile is characterized by frequent sleep disruptions – many awakenings during the night. These participants also suffered from cognitive problems, aggressive behavior, anxiety, thinking difficulties, high blood pressure, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption. This is considered the most dangerous profile in terms of health.
Not just hours, but also quality
Unlike previous studies that focused on a single measure such as “how many hours did you sleep?”, the current study offers a broader view, combining sleep, mental state, physical health, and brain structure.
The goal is to help better diagnose and treat sleep disorders and related health problems – by identifying each patient’s personal profile.
And although we tend to think that “good sleep” is only about hours, it turns out that the quality, the way we sleep, the environment, and even who we sleep with – matter just as much.