SEX & LOVE: Do You Need a "Sleep Divorce"?

How to stay connected when you decide on separate beds.

- RACHEL ZAR, L.M.F.T., C.S.T.

Sharing a bed with a partner can be wonderful in many ways-but though this is the default for couples in the U.S., the number of those with partners who decide to sleep in separate rooms is on the rise. Nearly one in four couples chooses this arrangement, and almost half say they'd be willing to try it.

The term "sleep divorce" has a negative connotation, but for some couples sleeping separately can actually lead to increased closeness and intimacy. In fact, good-quality sleep has been shown to be an important indicator of relationship health: A study from The Ohio State University showed that it could improve communication and reduce con flict and irritability over time.

Rachel Zar, L.M.F.T., CST, is a relationship and sex therapist at Spark Chicago Therapy and the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine & Menopause.