Sleepless Nights, Heavier Hearts: New Study Reveals Unsettling Link Between Poor Sleep and Rising Depression

New Survey Reveals a Surprising Sleep-Mood Link: Less Than Seven Hours May Double Depression Risk

A nationwide snapshot released today shows that the gap between the mattress and the mind may be wider than most of us thought. The National Sleep Foundation’s 2024 “Sleep in America” poll paints a stark picture: when nightly rest dips below the seven-hour mark, the odds of running into significant mood troubles surge.

Key Findings at a Glance*

50% of adults who clock under seven hours of week-night sleep experience at least mild depression, and one in five say the symptoms climb to moderate or severe.

65% who rate their own sleep as “unsatisfactory” are living with depressive symptoms; nearly a third report moderate-to-severe levels.

37–38% of people who struggle to fall—or remain—asleep even two nights a week already register mood distress.

Joseph Dzierzewski, the foundation’s vice president of research and scientific affairs, calls the timing critical: “The U.S. is still wading through a mental-health crisis deepened by the pandemic, and sleep is emerging as a lever we can all pull.” Notably, over 90 % of adults who rate their overall sleep quality high display little or no depressive signs—strong evidence that sound rest and emotional balance often arrive together.