Study of 476 Adults Finds Men Overestimate Sleep by 72% as Women Sleep 18 Minutes Longer
Updated
Updated · The Conversation · Jun 15
Study of 476 Adults Finds Men Overestimate Sleep by 72% as Women Sleep 18 Minutes Longer
3 articles · Updated · The Conversation · Jun 15
Summary
A 476-person study found women rated their sleep worse than men even though home sleep recordings showed they slept better on several measures, including 400 minutes a night versus 382 for men.
EEG-based monitoring showed women had fewer nighttime awakenings, less light sleep, more deep sleep and higher sleep efficiency, while men underestimated awakenings by 72% versus 37% for women.
Researchers said women likely notice poor sleep more because each awakening lasts longer—about 9 minutes versus just under 7 for men—making those disruptions easier to remember the next morning.
Age widened the gap: among adults over 65, women averaged about 80 minutes of deep stage-three sleep a night, compared with 53 minutes for men.
The one-night study suggests some men may miss underlying sleep problems and delay seeking help, though longer-term research is needed to confirm the pattern.