For many couples, a good night’s sleep feels like the ultimate relationship goal. And with trends like “sleep divorce” or the Scandinavian sleep method gaining popularity, more partners are trying out life in separate beds—or even separate rooms—to get some rest. However, according to a new study, sleeping apart may come with emotional downsides that couples often overlook.

Researchers in Taiwan surveyed 860 older heterosexual couples to understand how sleeping arrangements impact emotional well-being. Their findings, published in BMC Public Health, revealed a clear pattern: older couples who slept in separate rooms reported poorer psychological well-being than those who shared a bed.

The study measured factors such as happiness, life satisfaction, and a sense of fulfillment, and compared them to couples’ sleep arrangements. Surprisingly, sharing a home was less important for well-being than sharing a sleeping space. The researchers concluded that how couples sleep is a “significant factor” in their overall emotional health and should be viewed within the context of the relationship itself.

Wendy Troxel, Ph.D., a sleep expert and senior scientist at RAND Corporation, spoke with Fox News Digital about the findings. Troxel, who wasn’t involved in the research, said the results could reflect the impact of emotional distance.

"At first glance, that appears to support the commonly held belief that sleeping separately signals something negative in a relationship," she said.

She also pointed out what makes this study stand out. "What’s unique about this new study is that it suggests the couple’s sleeping arrangement itself may influence well-being, highlighting how intimately sleep and relationships are linked in supporting health across the lifespan."

However, Troxel cautioned that the study was cross-sectional, meaning it shows a link but not a clear cause and effect. In other words, couples who sleep apart may already be dealing with issues that affect both sleep and mental health.

"It may be that older couples who sleep apart already face health or sleep challenges, such as chronic illness, sleep apnea or insomnia, which affect both their decision to sleep separately and their mental health," she explained. She added that researchers also didn’t explore why couples chose separate rooms, which can make a major difference in how that choice affects them.

Troxel noted that older adults face “double vulnerability” when it comes to sleep and mental wellness. Up to half of adults over 60 report insomnia or disrupted sleep. And as people age, sleep naturally becomes lighter, more fragmented, and often shifts to earlier hours. At the same time, mental health challenges like depression, loneliness and anxiety become more common, creating what Troxel calls a “feedback loop that undermines mental health.”

Still, she emphasized that there’s no one “right” way for couples to sleep. "For some, sharing a bed fosters closeness and security," she said. "For others, especially when sleep disorders or incompatible habits are at play, separate bedrooms can be a wise and health-promoting choice, provided that couples arrive at this decision through open and honest communication."

Physical closeness does offer real benefits. Cuddling releases oxytocin—the “love hormone”—which lowers stress and boosts feelings of safety. However, snoring, tossing and turning, or even variations in body temperature can create sleep disruptions of their own.

"Chronic poor sleep erodes mood, empathy and patience, key ingredients in a healthy relationship," Troxel noted.

For couples who sleep apart, Troxel encourages finding small ways to stay emotionally connected, like sharing a nighttime wind-down routine before parting for the night.

"Ultimately, the healthiest sleeping arrangement is the one that supports consistent, quality sleep, emotional connection and long-term well-being," she said.