Sleeping less than the recommended eight hours a night is associated with intrusive, repetitive thoughts similar to those in anxiety or depression, reveals new research. Scientists evaluated sleep timing and duration among individuals with moderate to high levels of repetitive negative thinking, such as constant worrying. Participants viewed emotionally charged images while eye-tracking technology monitored their attention. Results showed that ongoing sleep disruptions hinder the ability to shift focus from negative stimuli, potentially sustaining these disruptive thought patterns and affecting daily life.
"Participants showed a tendency for thoughts to linger, with elevated negative thinking impairing their detachment from negative stimuli," a lead researcher explained. "While others can process and dismiss negative information, they struggled to let it go." Such persistent negative thoughts increase vulnerability to mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, the researchers noted.
