Women's Sleep Needs: Do women really need more sleep than men? What do experts say?

Women need more sleep: If we talk about the most important things for humans, sleep is one of them. Let us tell you whether women need more sleep than men.

 

Why women need more sleep: What a person needs in life is to be able to eat and sleep peacefully when they return home tired at night. Sleep is as important for a person as food and water. If you don't sleep properly, it can cause all kinds of problems later on. We hear all kinds of things from experts regarding sleep, saying that this person should sleep more, that person should sleep less. One such question is whether women need more sleep than men. This question has been on people's minds for a long time. Now, several international studies confirm that, on average, women may need slightly more sleep than men. Let us explain why this is so.

Do women need more sleep?

According to the American Sleep Foundation and the Cleveland Clinic, women sleep about 10 to 15 minutes more than men on average. While this difference may seem small, there's scientific reasoning behind it. According to a 2021 report from the National Library of Medicine, women wake up more often during the night and have less sleep than men. This is why they need a little more sleep to feel fully refreshed.

Why do women need more sleep?

We know that women need more sleep, but the question is, why? There are various reasons for this, the first of which is hormonal changes. Women's bodies constantly undergo hormonal changes, which cause them to need more sleep. A Cleveland Clinic report states that premenstrual syndrome and hormonal imbalances are common causes of sleep disruptions and restlessness. The second reason is sleep problems. Women are more likely to wake up frequently or have light sleep. According to an NIH study, this pattern is especially seen in women who are stressed or caring for a child. The result is that even if the total amount of sleep is the same, the level of rest is less.

The third reason involves mental and social responsibilities. According to the Women's Brain Health Initiative, women often juggle multiple tasks throughout the day, such as household chores, work, and childcare. This constant multitasking exhausts the brain and increases mental energy consumption. Consequently, the brain needs more rest, or sleep, to recharge.