A recent study from a team at the American Academy of Neurology has uncovered a glaring truth: women struggle to get their beauty sleep after having children, while men seem to sleep like babies. Shocking, right? Of course, it’s not. Most moms are running on fumes and just trying to hold it together each day. But guess what? Dads are apparently not feeling the same sleep deprivation.
The study revealed that the presence of children in the household has little to no effect on men’s sleep duration. A press release stated, “Unlike men, a good night’s sleep for women is affected by having children in the house.” Nearly 6,000 participants were surveyed about their sleep habits, with the ideal sleep duration pegged at seven to nine hours, and fewer than six hours deemed insufficient. So, where do moms fit in?
“I think these findings may validate the feelings of exhaustion many women experience,” said study lead author Sarah Thompson, PhD, from Georgia Southern University. “Our research indicates they’re not only sleeping less, but they also report feeling constantly drained throughout the day.” Surprise, surprise! Who would’ve thought that being woken up multiple times by tiny humans would disrupt your sleep schedule?
You might be thinking, “Who cares?” and dismissing this as another stereotype reinforcing that dads don’t pull their weight. Whoa there! Let’s acknowledge that they’re tired too—it’s not a competition. But you know what? If we’re the ones losing sleep and taking on the lion’s share of parenting duties, we deserve some recognition. Where’s our trophy for surviving on five hours of broken sleep? We’re definitely not here for the accolades, but a little acknowledgment wouldn’t hurt!
Among the 2,908 women aged 45 and younger surveyed, researchers found that having kids was the primary factor linked to insufficient sleep, with each additional child increasing the odds of poor sleep by nearly 50 percent. For women under 45, 48 percent of those with children reported getting at least seven hours of sleep, compared to 62 percent of childless women.
“Getting enough sleep is crucial for overall health and can impact the heart, mind, and weight,” Thompson noted. “Understanding what keeps people from resting properly is vital for improving their health.” Maybe just recognizing that we’re getting less sleep would be a great starting point.
So, where’s our ribbon?
This article was originally published on March 2, 2017.
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Summary:
A study found that mothers experience significant sleep deprivation after having children, while fathers’ sleep remains largely unaffected. With nearly 50% of mothers under 45 reporting insufficient sleep, this highlights the ongoing struggle of motherhood and the need for acknowledgment of the challenges they face.