Women sleep differently than men ?

Common clichés say that men simply sleep deeply and soundly, while women not only get up earlier but also wake up constantly during the night - but is that true? We explain to you how our gender is connected to our sleep and whether women really sleep worse than men.

Table of contents

1. The Sexes & Sleep
2. Sleep duration: Do women sleep longer than men?
3. Sleep quality: Do women sleep better than men?
4. Lack of sleep: Do women suffer more from lack of sleep?
5. Sleep remains individual
6. Conclusion

1. Gender & Sleep

We all sleep about a third of our lives and usually need around seven to nine hours of sleep per night to feel really fresh and rested in the morning. How much sleep What we need exactly depends on our genetic predisposition, our chronotypes, our age, but also our gender. While around 65% of women suffer from sleep disorders, only around 20% of men are affected. But how exactly do female and male sleep behavior differ and who can sleep "better" overall?

2. Sleep duration: Do women sleep longer than men?

Scientific studies have shown that women need a little more sleep on average than men. In order to wake up feeling fully refreshed and rested, women need an average of 20 minutes more sleep per night.

One possible reason for the increased need for sleep is that the female brain performs more complex tasks during the day and that many different tasks, stress or multitasking generally lead to a stronger networking of different areas of the brain. This flexible functioning costs the organism a lot of energy and a woman's brain therefore needs longer to fully recover at night than a man's. Of course, this does not mean that women think more or better than men - they simply think differently.

3. Sleep quality: Do women sleep better or worse than men?

Women generally sleep worse than men and suffer more frequently from sleep disordersStudies in recent years have also been able to scientifically prove this. A woman's sleep is generally lighter and more prone to disturbances than that of a man. Women also need longer on average to fall asleep, wake up more often at night and can rarely find a restful sleep again, which significantly affects the quality of sleep. There can be several reasons for this.

Higher alertness
One possible reason for the sensitivity of women's nighttime sleep is the evolutionary development that meant that women, as former "wards," had to be more alert at night and react more quickly to potential dangers and sources of disturbance such as noise, movement or light during sleep. The female nervous system is therefore activated more quickly and reacts more strongly to external stimuli, which means that sleep is more easily disturbed and leads to frequent awakenings during the night.

Hormone Balance / Female Cycle
The female cycle in particular has a strong influence on sleeping behavior. During the monthly cycle, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but also in old age during menopause, the female hormone balance fluctuates greatly and affects numerous bodily functions, the psyche and sleeping behavior.

Many women struggle with sleep problems, especially in the first half of their cycle, because this is when the level of the hormone progesterone, which has a sleep-promoting and relaxing effect, drops. The typical symptoms such as abdominal pain, stomach cramps, bad mood or hot flushes can put additional strain on the body and increase daytime tiredness. But it is not only the occurrence of the physical or even physical symptoms themselves, but also the associated stress that hinders a restful sleep. This is because additional stress hormones such as cortisol are released, which act as an antagonist to the sleep hormone melatonin directly affects the sleep-wake regulation and stands in the way of restful sleep.

The Female Psyche
Our psychological state also has a major influence on how we sleep. Women are almost twice as likely to suffer from depression, anxiety or the stress and worries of everyday life - all factors that are also linked to insomnia and sleep disorders and prevent the body from getting enough rest and sleeping peacefully.

4. Lack of sleep: Do women suffer more from lack of sleep than men?

lack of sleep is particularly damaging to our daily performance and our health, but ultimately has a negative impact on many other areas of life. Studies show that men suffer less from a lack of sleep than women. Women are naturally more emotionally affected and react more sensitively to stress, insomnia and the consequences of a lack of sleepIn addition, the female body and the brain, which are heavily stressed during the day, need sufficient rest at night in order to be able to cope with the challenges of everyday life and to endure hormonal-related problems.

5. Sleep remains individual

Our sleeping habits are more than complex and depend on numerous factors that can influence our sleep to varying degrees. In contrast to their male counterparts, women are somewhat more often faced with the challenge of getting a sufficiently long and restful sleep despite hormonal fluctuations, increased sleep needs or a lack of sleep depth. Women can therefore go to bed a little earlier or sleep a few minutes longer than their men. Although they can sleep better overall, they are more likely to suffer from breathing disorders and snoring at night. The well-known clichés do have a kernel of truth and show how important it can be that we pay attention to different sleep needs, especially within a partnership - so that we can all sleep well and start a successful day together with new energy!

6. Conclusion

• Women suffer from sleep disorders almost twice as often as men and need an average of 20 minutes more sleep per night so that the brain, which is subjected to more complex demands during the day, can regenerate sufficiently

• The female hormone balance, the psyche and evolutionary characteristics make female sleep more difficult and lead to women having a harder time falling asleep, waking up more easily and sleeping less restfully

• Overall, women sleep worse than men and suffer more frequently from sleep disorders, difficulty falling asleep or problems sleeping through the night

Best regards and see you soon!