Can’t Sleep? Go to Church
By Movieguide® Contributor
A new study from Oregon State University found a link between undergrad students who struggle to fall asleep and how lonely they feel.
Thirty-five percent of the students who participated in the study identified themselves as lonely, and those students were also found to be twice as likely to have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night.
“Insomnia is detrimental to the health of college students,” said study co-author Jessee Dietch, assistant professor of psychological science, psychologist and sleep medicine practitioner. “It has been consistently associated with increased stress, anxiety and mood disturbance, as well as decreased academic performance.”
“Loneliness is also linked to rumination, greater sensitivity to stress, and depression, which are disruptive to sleep,” she added.
The U.S. Surgeon General has previously commented on the health impacts of loneliness that extend beyond insomnia, noting that “premature death due to loneliness could equal that of smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and can pose a greater health risk than living with obesity.”
These studies highlight the importance of community, something that we are made for. In Genesis 2:18, God notes that “it is not good for man to be alone.” The truth of that statement is extremely clear in today’s world where technology has made us more disconnected than ever. Thankfully, there are places to turn for community, such as the church.
READ MORE: CHUCK NORRIS ON THE ‘CHRISTMAS CURE FOR OUR EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS’
“I actually believe we’re on the beginning of a tidal wave of brain and mental health problems in young people, and it’s because we’re more disconnected than ever before, disconnected from our own families because when people are together their faces are buried in their gadgets,” explained psychiatrist Daniel Amen.
“Religious or faith-based groups can be a source for regular social contact, serve as a community of support, provide meaning and purpose, create a sense of belonging around shared values and beliefs, and are associated with reduced risk-taking behaviors,” he continued.
“So it’s back to church,” Amen added. “Go back to church. Get involved. Get involved with groups. We have to go back. And really, no better place to solve it than the church.”
READ MORE: GREG LAURIE SAYS THIS IS THE ANSWER TO AMERICA’S LONELINESS EPIDEMIC
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