Single Moms Aren't Getting Enough Sleep, CDC Report Shows

Single parents--especially single moms--aren't always getting enough sleep, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Researchers found that close to 43 percent of single parents in the United States get less than 7 hours of sleep each night when compared to 33 percent of U.S. adults in two-parent families and 31 percent of U.S. adults living without children, researchers say.

"Other research has shown that single parenthood is linked to stress and psychological distress," said sociologist Kristi Williams via The Huffington Post. "However, we know very little about the processes that underlie these patterns. This new [sleep] report is important because it suggests that sleep detriments may play an important role."

The report also showed that many single parents said they had difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep. Furthermore, another 52 percent said they had trouble getting enough even after sleeping. 

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) shows us that adults between the ages of 26 and 64 should be getting between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Too little sleep or interrupted sleep has been linked to a number of health issues, including an increased risk of obesity, stress, anxiety and even an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Some health officials believe that single parents should try to better prioritize sleep in order to prevent future health problems. It might be easy to put off rest, but in the long run, too little time spent in bed can do some serious damage to our brain and our body.

For more information on the complete report, click here.

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