Women are more likely to report poor sleep quality compared to men, even when objective measures indicate they sleep better, according to a new study published in the journal Sleep Advances. Researchers analyzed sleep data from nearly 500 individuals, monitoring brain activity, breathing, and movements, and then compared this with participants' self-assessments.
The findings suggest that men's more positive view of their sleep may be partly because they do not perceive or recall brief awakenings during the night as well as women do. "It's a paradox, but we have found a possible explanation for why sleep quality is perceived so differently by men and women," said Dr. Torbjörn Åkerstedt, professor emeritus at the department of clinical neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, in Sweden.
The study revealed that women more accurately estimated the number of times they woke up during the night, while men tended to underestimate their awakenings. Although men typically spent less time awake during each awakening, they generally rated their sleep quality as good. In contrast, women often rated their sleep quality as poorer, irrespective of how long they were awake.
These gender differences in sleep perception appear to become more pronounced with age. Older men experienced less deep sleep and more awakenings per hour. While women's objective sleep quality deteriorated to a lesser extent with age, they continued to report poorer sleep than men.
This study's findings align with broader survey data, including a survey by mattress manufacturer Simba, which found that 69 percent of Britons lie awake at night unable to switch off. This issue was particularly prevalent among younger adults, with 80 percent of 16-24 year olds and 77 percent of those aged 35-44 reporting trouble disengaging their minds at bedtime. The Simba survey also indicated that women were more likely to report a bad night's sleep, with 77 percent experiencing sleepless nights compared to 62 percent of men.
Stress, financial pressures, work demands, and social anxieties are identified as significant contributors to poor sleep. Adequate sleep is considered a fundamental aspect of overall health. Previous research has linked disrupted sleep to an increased risk of inflammation and weight gain, potentially contributing to chronic conditions. Experts have also warned that insufficient sleep could be a factor in the rise of cancer diagnoses among young people, with sleep disorders on the rise in the UK. Approximately one in five adults in the UK do not get enough sleep, and an estimated 16 million people suffer from insomnia.