Weighted blankets may be an easy way to improve sleep quality

Weighted blankets are sold as miraculous solutions for conditions such as sleep issues, anxiety, and depression. But, what does science say about that? 

This is the question that researchers from Flinders University in Australia looked into in a new review. 

Led by Dr Suzanne Dawson, a practitioner fellow who specialises in mental health, the team found that positive outcomes were reported regarding improving sleep, reducing medication use, and improving mood.

“Weighted blankets seem to offer a tangible, non-drug intervention for improving sleep quality,”Dawson said in a statement. 

“Adults who used the blankets reported better sleep, reduced use of sleep medications, and even improvements in mood and pain management,” she added.

However, the researchers highlighted that these results were reported among adults.

The outcomes for children and teenagers were mixed, according to the team’s findings published in theAmerican Journal of Occupational Therapy. The research was a review of 18 existing studies.

The team said that the next step is to develop clear clinical guidelines for the blankets’ use regarding the weight of the blanket and safety considerations like the ability of the user to remove the blanket on its own.

“This scoping review was conducted to inform practice change and we are pleased that the findings were used to change the state-wide protocols for use of weighted blankets across public mental health services in South Australia,” said Dawson.

“Blankets come in various types, from containing beads or chains, and various weights, but as yet no standardised recommendations exist, including type, weight, frequency of use, or duration”.

Zhou didn’t take part in the study. 

“Because of the limitations of the published literature in this field, the authors were only able to include a small number of studies in their review, and many were conducted by the same group of researchers or in a specific subpopulation,” he added, noting that more research was needed to draw a conclusion for the general population. 

Sleep deprivation on the rise

Sleep issues are a prevalent concern with one adult out of ten suffering from chronic insomnia in Europe with women being more afflicted than men,according to a study published in 2023. 

In Portugal, France and Belgium, one adult out of five reported having sleep problems.

“Sleep is a basic human need and when someone isn’t getting enough, it can lead to numerous health issues as well as increase the risk of, or exacerbate, chronic conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and mental health issues,” Dawson said.

Sleep deprivation has been linked to numerous negative outcomes on cognitive functionsand emotions, previous research showed. 

“While more rigorous research is needed to find their optimal use, use of weighted blankets should be further explored in practice,” Dawson said.