Aug 26, 2008 4:00 pm US/Eastern
Health: Sleeping Position & Personality Traits
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
In health, the way you fall asleep might reveal certain parts of your personality, according to one analysis. Medical Reporter Stephanie Stahl has details on the connections.
How do you fall asleep? Fetal position? Or are you more of a yearner or starfish?
Most people tend to fall asleep the same way every night.
An analysis of the six most common sleep positions revealed certain personality traits linked to each one.
"A person's psychology might actually determine the position in which they're sleeping," Dr. Damon Salzman explained.
The most common position is fetal; these people tend to have tough exteriors, but are sensitive inside.
Rob Angle says he sleeps in the fetal position and fits the personality profile.
"I'm pretty tough on the outside, but I'm an ooey-gooey, nice guy on the inside," Rob said.
People who sleep in the 'soldier position' … on the back, with hands at the side tended to be quiet, reserved, no-fuss people.
Arms over your head is the starfish position: good friends, and good listeners.
Falling asleep on your belly is called the 'free fall' position, and the study says they're talkative, but thin-skinned.
People who sleep in the log position, on their side with arms down, are social people who are trusting, but gullible.
Yearners are side sleepers, but their arms stick out; they tend to have an open nature, but can be suspicious-or even cynical.
"Sleep onset really is based on your comfort," Dr Fred Jaffe said.
Dr. Jaffe, with the Temple Sleep Disorder Center, says the position you fall asleep in doesn't last in spite of what most people think.
"We see a lot of patients come through the sleep lab who say 'I can only sleep on my stomach or I can only sleep on my back,'" Dr. Jaffe explained. "People sleep in different positions throughout the entire night.
Dr. Jaffe thinks the sleep personality connection is kind of like your horoscope; based more on faith rather than hard core science.
RELATED INFO:
Dr. Fred Jaffe
Temple Sleep Disorder Center
1-800-Temple -Med
http://pulmonary.templehealth.org/content/default.htm
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