Science has now definitively proven that having kids in the house means women get much less sleep.
And guys, you are actually not being impacted – so no more complaining you’re tired. Science says you’re perfectly fine!
Meanwhile, women everywhere are rolling their eyes and thinking, hey science, we could have told you this years ago! But thanks for confirming what we already knew … and 5,800 people can’t be wrong!
New research now officially backs up what many women already know: They’re sleep deprived.
According to a preliminary study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 69th Annual Meeting in April this year, and unlike men, a good night’s sleep for women is affected by having children in the house.
For the study, researchers examined data from an American nationwide telephone survey of 5,805 people. Participants were asked how long they slept, with 7 to 9 hours per day considered optimum. Less than six hours was considered insufficient. They were also asked how many days they felt tired in the past month.
“I think these findings may bolster those women who say they feel exhausted,” said study author Kelly Sullivan, PhD, of Georgia Southern University and a member of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). “Our study found not only are they not sleeping long enough, they also report feeling tired throughout the day.”
AAN: The research examined age, race, education, marital status, number of children in the household, income, body mass index, exercise, employment and snoring as possible factors linked to sleep deprivation.
Kids don’t mean everyone sleeps less
The study found that not only was living with children associated with how long younger women slept, but also how often they felt tired. Having children in the house was not linked to how long men slept nor how tired they felt.
Among the 2,908 women aged 45 years and younger in the study, researchers found the only factor associated with getting enough sleep was having children in the house. Surprisingly (or not!), each child in the house increased the odds of insufficient sleep by nearly 50%!
No other factors including exercise, marital status and education were linked to how long younger women slept. Women with children reported feeling tired 14 days per month.
Sources: American Academy of Neurology and Science Daily.
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The full study will be released in April and Mum Central will be sure to update you with further information.
In the interim, here’s what you need to know and how to use this glorious science to your advantage:
- Feel free to use the phrase ‘Suck it up dad, science says you’re fine‘ to any male that dares suggest he is tired in your presence.
I don’t know about you but I never loved science more than right now. Bravo Scientist & Researcher Kelly Sullivan the #mumsquad says thank you!Â
