Do Women Really Need More Sleep Than Men?

The scientists gave an unexpected answer.

Although for a long time the discussion was shaped more by opinions and stereotypes, several studies have concluded that, in certain respects, the female body reacts more sensitively to sleep deprivation. But exactly how much sleep do women need?

No one disputes the importance of sleep today: an adequate amount and quality of rest are essential for physical and mental health. However, it is less well known that, according to research, women and men do not necessarily react the same way to sleep deprivation, writes NLC.

A study conducted by researchers at Duke University and published back in 2008 analyzed the sleep habits and health status of 210 middle-aged men and women. The results indicated that insufficient or poor-quality sleep in women may be more strongly associated with various health problems than in men.

The study’s lead author, Edward Suarez, a psychiatrist and behavioral scientist, put it this way: “We found that in women, poor sleep is closely linked to high levels of psychological stress, as well as heightened feelings of hostility, depression, and anger. In contrast, in men, these feelings were not accompanied by the same sleep disturbances.”

This does not mean that men do not need adequate rest. It merely shows that, in certain areas, the female body may be more sensitive to the effects of sleep deprivation.

How Much Sleep Do Women Need

Professor Jim Horne, former director of the Sleep Research Center at Loughborough University, is often cited on this topic. According to him, one of the most important functions of sleep is to allow the brain to recover.

“One of the main functions of sleep is to allow the brain to regenerate and repair itself,” he said in an interview. According to the expert, during deep sleep, certain areas of the cerebral cortex almost “shut down” from processing external stimuli and focus on recovery.

According to Horn’s theory, the more intensively we use our brains during the day, the greater our need for rest. The professor believes that women are more likely to multitask, which means their brains may be subjected to a more complex workload throughout the day.

As a result, on average, they may need a little more sleep to recover. According to the expert, this difference isn’t measured in hours—we’re talking about a difference of roughly twenty minutes in average sleep needs. That said, every person is unique, so some women need more sleep, while others need less.

Hormones also affect sleep

However, women’s sleep is not determined solely by the way the brain functions. The constant presence of hormonal changes is also an important factor. The different phases of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, the postpartum period, and menopause—all of these can affect sleep quality.

Many women experience difficulty falling asleep, nighttime awakenings, or increased fatigue due to hormonal fluctuations.

For example, during pregnancy, frequent nighttime awakenings, physical discomfort, or hormonal changes can significantly reduce the amount of restful sleep. And hot flashes and night sweats during menopause can also be a serious challenge.

In addition, several studies indicate that depression and anxiety are more common among women, and these conditions themselves may be linked to sleep disturbances.

Everyday stressors should not be ignored either

Experts also point out that the issue of sleep cannot be viewed solely from a biological perspective. Social roles and daily stressors also significantly influence how much and how well a person can rest.

Many women try to juggle work, family, and household responsibilities at the same time. On top of that, raising children often still places a disproportionately large share of the responsibility on them. This is especially true for mothers of young children, whose sleep may be interrupted for long periods due to nighttime awakenings.

If a person doesn’t get enough sleep for months or even years, it can easily lead to chronic fatigue, irritability, and trouble concentrating. So it’s no surprise that many women start their day already feeling tired.

Do Women Really Need More Sleep?

According to most professional recommendations, the ideal amount of sleep for a healthy adult is 7–9 hours per day.

However, experts at Harvard Medical School who specialize in women’s health point out that a great many women do not even get this recommended amount on a regular basis.

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