MSU Researcher Finds Sleep Deprivation Makes People Less Happy, More Anxious

Sleeping less does more than just make us tired. It can undermine emotional functioning, decrease positive moods and put people at higher risk for anxiety symptoms, according to a study led by a Montana State University professor who synthesized more than 50 years of research on sleep deprivation and mood.

“In our largely sleep-deprived society, quantifying the effects of sleep loss on emotion is critical for promoting psychological health,” said Cara Palmer, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology in MSU’s College of Letters and Science and lead author of the paper published Dec....