Sleepless in the modern world: Do women face a greater sleep deficit?

Sumit Jha

Mar 14, 2025

Health

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Sleep is a vital component of our overall health and well-being, playing a critical role in physical and mental restoration. 

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But, as you scroll through social media, you might come across various claims related to sleep.

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Some will be showcasing warning signs of sleep issues from high cortisol, or others may have an overarching idea that women need more sleep than men.

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And, then you start to wonder, do women need more sleep? Our head starts to wonder if there is real science behind this, or is it just another internet myth?

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“As per guidelines, adults—both men and women—need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. There are no gender-based differences in recommended sleep duration,” said Dr. Sudhir Kumar.

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"Two factors—hormonal changes and higher stress/anxiety levels—are the primary scientifically backed reasons why women may require more sleep," pointed out Dr  Kishan Srikanth Juvva.

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“Ideal sleep is not just about duration; it’s about the quality of sleep,” said Dr Srikanth.