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SALT LAKE CITY -- Relationship experts are troubled by a new marriage trend: More couples are starting to sleep in separate beds, even separate bedrooms.
The National Sleep Foundation says one in four couples now sleep apart. Some say it's because of snoring, sleep apnea, restless legs, or spouses have different work schedules, or conflicting TV and Internet habits. But KSL relationship expert Matt Townsend says sleeping together is better for a relationship.
"It probably increases the likelihood of us touching more, of us talking more, of us actually having time together in a world where we don't have time," he explains.
Townsend says once spouses start looking for ways to spend time apart, that's problematic. It also seems like a little bit of what he calls "intelligent selfishness."
"If there's one little thing that starts to creep in on our ability to sleep better with our partner, we might be starting to say to ourselves 'I need to worry more about me than I need to worry about we,'" he says.
Research shows benefits to sleeping in the same bed. Women especially report feeling more security. Intimacy increases, and so do health benefits.
"Seizures and diabetic shock and other emergencies were more likely to go undetected if you weren't close to your partner, so there are medical reasons to do it," Townsend points out.
Sleep specialists also talk about rituals. They say those who pray together before bed are more likely to get a good night's sleep. Townsend says rituals are important to a marriage because they build that time and closeness together.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
