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Many report better sleep with pets, despite objective disruptions.

Sleep has both physiological and subjective dimensions.

Short-term comfort may come with longer-term sleep costs.

Although some people may frown upon the idea of sleeping with a pet, it is a common habit among many pet guardians. This practice includes room-sharing and bedsharing, and in both cases, many pet guardians describe feelings of comfort and relaxation when their pets are right beside them. In some cases, people may joke that their pets take up more space than they do, but they still view this experience positively.

Research about this topic has often focused on understanding why people choose to sleep with their pets, as well as the impacts of this practice on sleep. These studies may use both subjective measures and objective parameters to explore whether and how the presence of a pet in the room or on the bed affects sleep quality.

Here, something interesting is often observed. While some pet guardians seem to associate sleeping with their pet with feelings of comfort, safety, and emotional regulation, recent studies are pointing in a different direction. In this context, when we look more closely at sleep, there is evidence of greater disruption, including micro-awakenings and increased........

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