This is what your sleeping position reveals about your personality - according to a psychotherapist

Whether you’re a front, back or side sleeper, everyone has their preferred way to drift off. But did you know that your go-to sleeping position could say a lot about your personality?

New research reveals that a person’s sleeping habits could say a lot more about their personalities than they think.

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Online bed and mattress retailer, Bed SOS, carried out research in order to discover the UK’s five most common sleeping positions.

The retailer partnered with UK psychotherapist, Nick Davies, to reveal just what these sleeping positions might say about your personality.

These are the five most popular sleeping positions, according to the study, and what they say about your personality.

On side with arms tucked under a pillow (23 per cent of people)

The is the number one sleeping position across the UK (Photo: Shutterstock)

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The number one sleeping position across the UK is lying on your side with arms tucked under the pillow. According to Nick Davies, this means you are laid-back.

“These kinds of sleepers live a balanced life; they will also be the more relaxed type who are usually open-minded and have playful personalities,” he says.

Foetal position (20 per cent of people)

The foetal position is a popular way to sleep (Photo: Shutterstock)

One in five people (20 per cent) enjoy sleeping in the foetal position, which is said to be a vulnerable position.

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“Curled up almost in a ball, people who sleep like this might be feeling lonely as they move to the position where they were first nurtured in the womb. Those who sleep in this position have introverted personalities and can be closed off or shy,” explains Davies.

On side with arms stretched out (9 per cent of people)

9 per cent of people sleep on their side with their arms stretched out (Photo: Bed SOS)

Those who sleep on their side in bed with their arms stretched out could be "reaching for something unconsciously, they may have unresolved goals and dreams, or it could symbolise longing for a partner,” explains the psychotherapist.

Cuddling spooning partner (8 per cent of people)

Younger people are more likely to cuddle and spoon their partner (Photo: Shutterstock)

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One in ten men (10 per cent) prefer to cuddle and spoon their partner in bed. However, fewer women (7 per cent) say they enjoy this.

Younger people are also more likely to cuddle and spoon their partner, with more than one in 10 (13 per cent) of 18 to 24 year olds preferring to sleep in this way, in comparison to four per cent in the 55 to 64 and 65 plus age groups.

Davies says, “The big spoon is someone who enjoys giving comfort and protection whereas the little spoon is enjoyed by someone who likes being looked after, cared for and nurtured.”

On your back with arms by side (8 per cent of people)

This is also a popular sleeping position (Photo: Bed SOS)

Around 10 per cent of men are likely to lie straight on their back with their arms by their sides, with six per cent of women found to adopt the same position.

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“The characteristics of this sleeper are more likely to be an open book and a direct communicator and could possibly tend to be rude,” Davies reveals.

What about the starfish position?

The research found that only 3 per cent of people in the UK “starfish” (or spread out) in their beds while they sleep.

According to Davies, those who starfish “often have narcissistic traits and a lack of empathy for others feelings. Those who sleep on their back in this position also tend to be very laid-back characters who don’t let things bother them.”

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