Sleeping under attack: Sleep disruption and next-day emotions during active wartime
Shai Nimrodi1, Rony Gordon Roth1, Maya Poches1
1School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv 6139001, Israel.
Summary
Nighttime air-raid sirens during wartime significantly disrupt civilian sleep, leading to increased anxiety and depression the next day. Sleep disruption is a key factor linking conflict to emotional distress, highlighting sleep as a crucial intervention target.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sleep Science
- War Studies
Background:
- War exposure negatively impacts sleep and mental health.
- Short-term emotional effects of war-related sleep disturbances are understudied.
- Nighttime air-raid alerts during the 2025 Israel-Iran war were used to study sleep and emotional consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the effects of nighttime air-raid alerts on civilian sleep and next-day emotions.
- To test sleep disruption as a mediator between siren exposure and emotional outcomes.
- To evaluate the influence of siren timing and shelter characteristics on sleep and emotional impact.
Main Methods:
- 1340 adults in Israel (1140 exposed to sirens, 199 unexposed) completed online surveys.
- Data collected on siren exposure, sheltering, sleep duration, nocturnal wakefulness, and next-day mood.
- Study conducted during days 5-11 of the 2025 Israel-Iran war.
Main Results:
- Siren exposure reduced sleep by 39 minutes and increased wakefulness by 34 minutes.
- Exposed individuals reported higher anxiety-depression and lower mood.
- Sleep disruption fully mediated anxiety-depression and partially mediated mood effects; timing and shelter mattered.
Conclusions:
- Sleep disruption is a critical link between nighttime attacks and civilian emotional harm.
- Preserving or restoring sleep is a vital intervention for mental health during conflict.
- Targeting sleep can mitigate the psychological toll of war on civilians.
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