by New research from Stockholm University suggests that hitting the snooze button in the morning may not be as harmful as commonly believed. A study conducted by the university’s Department of Psychology found that regular snoozers do not experience negative effects on sleep quality or cognitive functions upon waking.
There has been a long-standing belief that using the snooze button can have detrimental effects on sleep and the brain’s ability to wake up. However, there has been no scientific evidence to support these claims. The researchers at Stockholm University set out to investigate the prevalence of snoozing and its effects on sleep, sleepiness, mood, and cognitive abilities.
The study involved 1732 participants who answered questions about their morning habits, including how often they use the snooze button. Many reported regularly snoozing, with this behavior being particularly common among young adults and evening people. Feeling too tired to get out of bed when the alarm goes off was cited as the most common reason for snoozing.
In a more detailed analysis, 31 regular snoozers spent two nights in a sleep lab. On one morning, they were allowed to snooze for 30 minutes, while on the other, they had to get up immediately when the alarm went off. The results were surprising. Although the participants’ sleep was interrupted during the snooze period, the total amount of sleep they obtained was barely affected, with most participants still getting more than 20 minutes of sleep. Furthermore, the snoozers performed slightly better on cognitive tests upon waking, and there were no clear effects on mood, sleepiness, or cortisol levels.
The lead author of the study, Tina Sundelin, stated that “our study shows that half an hour of snoozing does not have negative effects on night sleep or sleep inertia.” She further added that snoozing may even have some positive outcomes, such as a decreased likelihood of waking from deep sleep and feeling more quick-thinking upon waking. However, it is important to note that the study only included regular snoozers who find it easy to go back to sleep after each alarm, so snoozing may not be suitable for everyone.
The findings of this study provide a fresh perspective on the snooze button debate and challenge the widely held belief that it negatively impacts sleep and cognitive processes. For those who regularly snooze and find comfort in those extra minutes of slumber, there may be no need to worry about detrimental effects on overall sleep quality or alertness upon waking.
As our understanding of sleep continues to evolve, it is essential to conduct further research to explore the effects of snoozing on different population groups and under various conditions. However, for now, those who appreciate the morning magic of hitting the snooze button can rest a little easier knowing that it may not be as harmful as once thought.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
