Does the Full Moon Affect Your Sleep? Science Weighs In

Have you ever found yourself tossing and turning during a full moon? Maybe you wondered if the moonlight was keeping you awake.

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Humans have long linked the full moon to restless nights, strange behavior, and even madness. The English word “lunacy” comes from the Latin word luna, meaning moon.

Police officers, hospital staff, and emergency workers often say that nights are busier during a full moon. But science tells a more complicated story.

The Power of the Moon

Studies show that the full moon can slightly change sleep patterns, writes Videnskab. People tend to sleep 15 to 30 minutes less, take longer to fall asleep, and spend less time in deep sleep in the nights leading up to the full moon. These effects are stronger in rural areas without artificial light.

Men and women may respond differently. Men seem to lose more sleep when the moon is waxing, while women may experience a slight drop in deep sleep around the full moon itself. The most likely reason is light. Bright moonlight can delay the body’s internal clock and reduce melatonin, the hormone that signals it is time for sleep.

For centuries, people believed the full moon could trigger mania, epileptic seizures, or psychotic episodes in vulnerable individuals. Poor sleep might have contributed to these observations. Modern science confirms that even a single night of disrupted sleep can increase anxiety, lower mood, and worsen conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Inconsistent Study Results

But large studies show only weak evidence that the moon itself triggers psychiatric crises. Some small studies in India and China found minor increases in hospitalizations or restraints during full moons, but these patterns are not consistent across countries. Cultural and local factors may play a role.

Other proposed explanations, like gravitational forces or geomagnetic changes, do not hold up. These effects are too weak to affect human physiology. Nighttime light remains the most plausible link between the moon and sleep changes.

Psychologists note that the myth of the full moon persists because people notice unusual nights and forget the ordinary ones. The moon is highly visible, so it is easy to blame.

Even a small effect on sleep shows something important: night light matters. Our bodies are designed to follow natural cycles of light and dark. Artificial light from screens, street lamps, or indoor lighting can disrupt sleep much more than moonlight.

So, if you struggle to sleep during a full moon, it may be real—but your bedroom lighting and modern habits are probably the bigger problem.