Did you know that sleep affects our willingness to help others? California psychologists conducted multiple studies to understand how lack of sleep may impact our desire to help others. Studies 1 and 2 measured motivations to help by assessing a breadth of possible helpful deeds and common everyday actions. Study 1 monitored 24 participants under conditions of being well-rested vs. sleep-deprived. In study 2, over 100 participants submitted daily sleep diaries and completed four-day surveys of different social scenarios. In Study 3, psychologists compared real-world responses to donation requests of one group assessed before Daylight Savings Time with the group assessed after Daylight Saving time and therefore having one hour less sleep. Results? Sleep loss reduced the desire to help others in 78% of participants. Importantly, this wasn't just about mood or empathy but a broader behavioral change. Sleep-deprived people were less inclined to help, whether dealing with strangers or familiar faces. Get regular Sleep! Sleep plays a vital role in our social interactions. A good night's sleep is essential in fostering our more compassionate, empathetic, and generous support of others. Reference: Ben Simon E, Vallat R, Rossi A, Walker MP (2022). Sleep loss leads to the withdrawal of human helping across individuals, groups, and large-scale societies. PLoS Biol 20(8): e3001733. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001733.

Written by Jarret Bain B.S.