High-quality sleep and coping mechanisms, such as the capacity to reframe a situation in order to see the positive side, can help to prevent poor mental health when faced with unpleasant or stressful experiences, according to the study, which was led by researchers at the University of York. Chronic stress is a major risk factor for a number of mental health disorders, including depression and pathological anxiety.

The study examined information from more than 600 people during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a protracted stressful time period. They set out to test the idea that coping mechanisms promoted favourable mental health outcomes, which may be boosted by getting good sleep.