You don’t need an excuse to sleep in on weekends, but here’s one anyway!
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.
We all know that sleep is important. But, could it help protect your mental health?
Researchers Jason Carbone and Melinda Casement found catching up on rest had serious benefits.
Over a thousand young adults were surveyed about their sleep habits and daily mood. Researchers asked how many hours they slept and how often they felt sad or depressed.
And? Weekend catch-up snoozers reported a forty percent lower rate of depression than those who got consistent sleep.
Now we know, weekend rest is even better. And, if anyone asks, you have scientific proof.
Carbone, J.T., Casement, M. D. Weekend catch-up sleep and depressive symptoms in late adolescence and young adulthood: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Journal of Affective Disorders, Volume 394, Part B (2026). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.120613.