There are many different ways in which couple sleep. Back to back, facing each other, cuddling, or not even remotely close to each other. It may not seem like a big deal, I mean we cannot really help the way in which we move once we are already asleep, but research has shown that the position that people sleep in relates to their relationship and personality.

Psychologist Professor Richard Weisman from University of Hertfordshire conducted a study in which he asked, “… over 1,000 people to describe their preferred sleeping position and to rate their personality and quality of their relationship.” The findings were that couples who spent the night touching in some way were generally happier. 94% of couples who slept in a position that involved touching reported being happier than 68% of couples who did not touch. The further apart the couples slept, the worse their relationship. The study found that 42% of couples sleep back to back, 31% sleep facing the same direction, and 4% sleep facing each other. Only a mere 2% of couples sleep over 30 inches apart and 12% of couples sleep less than an inch apart. It was also found that a more extroverted person is more likely to sleep close to their partner, and creative people tend to sleep on their left side.

I think the most important thing to take out of this study was the power of touch. The couples who slept closely to each other reported being happiest. Studies have shown that “touch” can be viewed as a language, and there is an understanding between people when using touch. Holding hands, cuddling, and hugging are all examples of touch, and are all proven to relieve stress. Based on this, maybe the couples who are in contact while sleeping are happier because whilst sleeping, they are relieving stress.

                   courtesy of www.shape.com