The search for one happy and healthy relationship It’s a common goal for everyone, but the appearance of these relationships can vary significantly from couple to couple.
While aspects such as trust, a sense of humor, intimacy, and acceptance are widely recognized as important in any relationship, researchers have found that certain biological markers can also point to a happy and healthy relationship.
For example, psychologists claim that drowsiness in the presence of the partner can be a positive indicator. These results highlight the complexity and diversity of factors that create happiness and health in romantic relationships.
According to psychology professor Madeline Sprajcer of the University of Central Queensland in Australia, people who are in romantic relationships tend to have higher levels of oxytocin, a hormone linked to bonding between partners.
In addition, they suggest that oxytocin may have a positive impact on our sleep patterns. So can a healthy relationship put us to sleep?
A chemical sign that you are in a happy relationship
Studies have shown that oxytocin can speed up the process of falling asleep and improve sleep efficiency, which is brought about by an increase in REM sleep episodes, known for their restorative ability.
Often referred to as the “love hormone,” this hormone is commonly released during sexual activity, particularly orgasm.
However, research suggests that oxytocin can also be released just by the presence of a romantic partner you feel strongly connected to, as Sprajcer pointed out.
In a 2022 study published in the journal sleep scienceSprajcer and his research team showed a correlation between regular relationships, sexual satisfaction and more frequent orgasm with reduced sleep latency, i.e. the ease of falling asleep.
The specialist explained that this is a survey that provides information about the quality of relationships, i.e. about the feeling of security within the relationship, which can have a positive effect on sleep.
In another study published in 2017 in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science http://myweb.sabanciuniv.edu/emreselcuk/files/2019/09/SelcukStantonSlatcherOng17.pdf, Emre Selçuk, Associate Professor of Psychology at Sabanci University in Turkey, was able to demonstrate this connection quantitatively.
In an interview with Newsweek, Emre Selçuk explained that the perception of partner’s responsiveness is a crucial factor in sleep quality. He stressed that feeling understood, valued, and cared for by your partner is a key indicator of good sleep quality.
Research showed that those living in healthy, caring relationships experienced less anxiety, which contributed to more restful sleep.
Selçuk pointed out that good sleep requires a relaxed state and that the presence of anxiety or stress that accumulates throughout the day can interfere with falling asleep and lead to frequent awakenings.
Cortisol is a hormone that plays an important role in regulating our sleepwake cycle. Of course, cortisol levels in the body fluctuate throughout the day. It peaks in the morning to help us wake up and stays lower at night to help fall asleep.
However, emotional stress can upset this natural balance. When we are exposed to high levels of stress for an extended period of time, our bodies can continue to produce excess cortisol at night, affecting sleep quality.
This can lead to difficulty falling asleep, frequent waking up during the night, and restless sleep.
According to Selçuk, the results of his research suggest that responsive relationship partners are associated with a healthier daytime cortisol profile.
This suggests that the partner’s role in cortisol regulation may be one of the biological switches responsible for promoting sleep quality in happy relationships.