Sleep is critical in the promotion of health. According to research, sleep affects diverse aspects of life and increases the risk of infectious diseases in society. The study offers a psychological approach to sleep, evaluating the occurrence of sleep disorders, and how they progress to severe illnesses such as depression, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. The study analyses sleep from a psychological point of view indicating the significance of sleep as a daily routine for all individuals. The findings suggest that chronic deprivation and poor sleep leads to sleep disorders. The study was limited by generalizations, such as different responses of individuals. The research is most relevant to the field of psychology, offering understanding and expertise to psychologists and other institutions such as governments, medical professionals, families, societies, and individuals.
Introduction
Sleep is both a physiological and psychological process that is essential to life and a significant daily routine for all individuals. Sleep has been classified as a critical part of survival, such as food and water. Researchers have emphasized on the need to acquire quality sleep by spending enough time resting at the right times. Sleep is essential for the proper functioning of the brain in learning and creation of memories, concentration, response, and communication. Sleep in a necessity for every person despite its biological purpose being a mystery to science. Sleeps affects all aspects of human life, including metabolism, immune system, and disease resistance. Thus, psychologists view sleep as very relevant to social functionality where lack of sleep or poor-quality leads to body disorders.
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Background
Sleep is a significant aspect of psychology, as many people suffer from sleeping disorders. Sleep psychology was established as a specialty field in professional psychology, which addresses sleep and evaluates sleep disorders in society (Litwiller, 2017). Sleep psychology rises to address the effects of lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep. Sleep deprivation or sleep loss causes problems and leads to poor concentration, poor memory, and slow responses (Gerhardsson et al. 2017). Lack of quality sleep brings forth fatigued people who are prone to mistakes and accidents. The goal of the study is, to emphasize the need for regular sleep providing evidence-based arguments on the importance of sleep. Rest is a must and not an option playing a significant role in the restoration of human power, memory improvement, and improving human attention.
Personal thoughts on sleep
In my view, the worth of sleep due to its impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of individuals should be emphasized. Rest is one of the most critical factors in ensuring individual remain healthy in life. Sleep is crucial to survival and changes in quantity and how it is distributed over the daily routine of an individual can have diverse effects. Poor quality sleep is associated with physical, behavioral, cognitive, and metabolic impairments, which increase the risk of chronic diseases in an individual. More research should be conducted on sleep to assist the high population suffering from sleep disorders on their own or as a result of other medical conditions (Litwiller, 2017). Psychological diagnosis should address critical areas such as ad sleep cycles, regulation, sleep changes with age as well as monitor treatment.
Research Methods
Researchers have put in place research methods to address the many individual needs for sleep. For many, naps are elusive or troubled as people in different aspects of their lives experience difficulties in falling asleep or in staying asleep for quality time. Research of sleep, sleep patterns, and sleep disorders are approached using c clinical or case studies, surveys, and archival research (King, 2016). Studies on sleep have also been conducted through naturalistic observations where sleep disorders are evaluated depending on how they occur in the natural context (Litwiller, 2017). Clinical and case studies have revealed the ontogenetic process of sleep in humans, which evolves through alterations through different ages from newborn throughout an entire individual lifespan.
Significance of the sleep
Sleep as a concept of the study is significant as it makes up the daily routine of every individual as every person spends a third of their time in sleep. The importance of sleep to psychologists is indicated by its strong relationship to behavior and functioning of the brain (King, 2016). Research shows that sleep is vital for several brain functions. They include communication of neurons, removal of toxins from the body, immune functions, disease resistance metabolism, and other systems in the body (Gerhardsson et al. 2017). The topic of sleep brings out the complex and dynamic process that affects the functioning of the body. It also evaluates how chronic lack of sleep or getting poor quality sleep increases the risk of diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases (Gingo, 2019). The research on sleep has, therefore enabled psychologists to learn about the function and regulation of sleep and relationship of sleep with diseases.
Findings
Studies show a close relationship between sleep and diseases where humans who are chronically deprived of sleep suffer from various disorders. The results indicate the chronically sleep-deprived people are overweight and suffer from cardiovascular diseases, strokes, infections, and different types of cancers compared to those who attain enough sleep (Gerhardsson et al. 2017). Research also shows rest as significance concerning age and life longevity in its study of sleep patterns. Studies indicated reduced ability to sleep with as age increased with increased alterations in sleep patterns as well as improved sleep disorders (King, 2016). The findings called for the need for a response to sleep disorders for successful aging and longevity of life.
Limitations
Various factors limited the evaluation of sleep and its relationship with diseases and the effect on the longevity of life. The analysis of sleep and sleep disorders using clinical case studies was limited by people able to function on different levels and types of sleep (Hirshkowitz et al., 2015). Studies show that while others require longer hours of sleep, others can function with less sleep. There is also the mysterious nature of sleep and lack of biological evidence to support the significance of sleep, which bring complexity in understanding the role of sleep in human behavior.
Application
Due to the high prevalence of sleeping disorders, the study of sleep, sleeping patterns and types of sleeping are applicable in different perspectives and disciplines such as psychology, medical professions, in families, institutions, governments, societies and in the lives of individuals (Litwiller, 2017). Psychologists apply sleep studies to address sleeping disorders (Hirshkowitz et al., 2015). Medical professionals use the knowledge on sleep and sleeping patterns to address morbidity and impairment of function (King, 2016). Medical professionals use sleep studies to address specific issues. All medical professionals, such as pulmonologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, and psychologists, use their expertise to treat sleep disorders. The reviews are applicable in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep problems which treat physical and mental health disorders.
Research on sleep is relevant to families helping in the treatment of their members and better allocation of their resources. Known sleep disorders costs are now catered for by insurance reducing their burden on medical care. Sleep disorders are highly prevalent in societies, and understanding their causes and treatment helps institutions government societies and the society to address human diseases, disorders through treatment (Gingo, 2019). Knowledge is essential in the regulation of human behavior and functionality in society. The experience will help governments to set aside resources to address mental health problems arising from sleep such as depression, anxiety, traumatic disorders, and others.
Relevance on the field of psychology
Research on consciousness with an emphasis on sleep is relevant to the area of psychology due to the close relationship between sleep problems and mental health disorders. The understanding of human behaviors is essential for psychologists, and thus, the analysis of sleep and sleep patterns will impact the field diversely (King, 2016). For example, research indicates that insomnia is a risk factor for depression. With this information, psychologists will put in place measures for development, evaluation, and treatment of human behaviors (Hirshkowitz et al., 2015). Studies on sleep are essential to psychologists as knowledge helps them to enquire from their patients. They provide support and interventions for sleeping problems. The studies have also enabled psychologists to offer behavioral treatments in their understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of sleep.
Conclusion
The studies on sleep have given an understanding of the rest, identifying healthy sleep and sleep disorders. The research has provided insights on the need for psychologists to gain expertise and address sleep and sleeping disorders from an informed perspective. The study has also shown the relationship between sleep and diseases which arise from chronic deprivation of sleep or lack of quality sleep. The study provides an overview and assessment in the examination of sleep, approach to sleep disorder diagnosis, evaluation of treatment as well as understanding the role of sleep on human behavior. The research on sleep, however, leaves unanswered questions on the relationship between sleep and diseases in understanding ineffective rest as the cause of diseases or the impact of conditions on sleep. The studies also fail to explain the ability of people to function differently where some people function of different levels of sleep. In other incidents, some people thrive on less sleep while the consequences of poor sleep are for others in diseases such and obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and others.
References
Gerhardsson, A., Fischer, H., Lekander, M., Kecklund, G., Axelsson, J., Åkerstedt, T., & Schwarz, J. (2017). Emotional working memory in older adults after total sleep deprivation. Sleep Medicine (Vol. 40, No. Suppl. 1, pp. e110-e110).
Gingo, M. (2019). Introductory Psychology Syllabus.
Hirshkowitz, M., Whiton, K., Albert, S. M., Alessi, C., Bruni, O., DonCarlos, L., ... & Kheirandish-Gozal, L. (2015). National Sleep Foundation’s updated sleep duration recommendations. Sleep health , 1 (4), 233-243.
King, L. A. (2016). The science of psychology: An appreciative view . McGraw-Hill Education.
Litwiller, B., Snyder, L. A., Taylor, W. D., & Steele, L. M. (2017). The relationship between sleep and work: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(4), 682.
