A new possible divorce precursor to be aware of? A woman’s lack of sleep, according to a new study.

In a 10-day study of 35 young married couples, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh discovered wives who experienced trouble sleeping tended to create more negative marital interactions the next day, such as ignoring or criticizing their partners. Study leaders directed the participants to record their daily assessment on their marital interactions via electronic diaries.

“The findings suggest a wife’s prolonged inability to sleep predicts her own and her husband’s marital interactions, which tend to be more negative and less positive,” said Wendy Troxel, the study’s lead researcher. Troxel said scientists used noninvasive sensors to monitor rest and activity cycles.

However, researchers did not find a relationship between the amount of time it took men to fall asleep and how they interacted with their wives the next day. Some believe that because women tend to be expressive they are more likely to show their stress and verbalize their feelings.

Sleep deprivation can be a major source of stress in a relationship and may lead to conflicts or even separate bedrooms, according to WebMD. The site said lack of sleep may also cause memory and cognitive impairment and may reduce performance and alertness.

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