Accepted: 8 January 2024 / Published online: 23 January 2024 | Viviana Lo Martire, Chiara Berteotti, Giovanna Zoccoli, Stefano Bastianini
The paper reviews the complex relationship between sleep, stress, and resilience, highlighting the positive role of good sleep in mitigating chronic stress. The neuroendocrine stress response, involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS), is discussed, along with the bidirectional effects of stress on sleep and the impact of stress on the wake-sleep cycle. The authors emphasize that low resilience is associated with higher stress and sleep disorders, while good sleep can enhance resilience and reduce stress. Recent studies show that cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) improves sleep quality, reduces general stress, and alleviates depressive symptoms. The paper concludes by suggesting that improving sleep hygiene could be a valuable tool for enhancing stress resilience and overall well-being.The paper reviews the complex relationship between sleep, stress, and resilience, highlighting the positive role of good sleep in mitigating chronic stress. The neuroendocrine stress response, involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS), is discussed, along with the bidirectional effects of stress on sleep and the impact of stress on the wake-sleep cycle. The authors emphasize that low resilience is associated with higher stress and sleep disorders, while good sleep can enhance resilience and reduce stress. Recent studies show that cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) improves sleep quality, reduces general stress, and alleviates depressive symptoms. The paper concludes by suggesting that improving sleep hygiene could be a valuable tool for enhancing stress resilience and overall well-being.