Study: Women rate sleep worse than men despite resting better objectively.

Women frequently complain about poor sleep despite objective data showing they rest better than men, according to a new study.

Researchers monitored brain activity, breathing, and movement in nearly 500 participants before asking about their sleep quality.

The findings, published in Sleep Advances, reveal a distinct pattern where women rate their rest lower than men do.

Dr Torbjörn Åkerstedt of Karolinska Institutet in Sweden explains this paradox suggests men may forget brief night wakings.

Women accurately estimated how often they woke up, while men consistently underestimated their frequency of awakening.

Men generally spent less time awake during these interruptions, yet they still rated their sleep as better.

Women reported poor sleep quality regardless of how long they stayed awake during the night.

The gap between perception and reality widens as people age, with men experiencing more deep sleep loss.

Women's objective sleep quality declined less with age, but they continued to report worse rest than men.

These findings align with Simba mattress data indicating 69 per cent of Britons struggle to switch off at night.

A survey of 2,000 people showed 80 per cent of teenagers and 77 per cent of those aged 35 to 44 face bedtime troubles.

The study confirmed that 77 per cent of women reported sleepless nights compared to 62 per cent of men.

Stress, financial pressure, work demands, and social anxieties drive these widespread sleep disturbances among the population.

Quality rest forms a basic foundation for a healthy life and prevents serious long-term health issues.

Disrupted sleep increases inflammation and weight gain, potentially leading to chronic conditions that shorten lifespan.

Experts warn that lack of sleep may be fueling rising cancer diagnoses in younger people today.

Insomniacs face higher disease risks compared to those who maintain regular, restorative sleep patterns every night.

Sleep disorders are rising in the UK, with nearly one fifth of adults failing to get enough rest.

Approximately 16 million adults in the UK suffer from insomnia, representing one in three of the entire population.

Frequent daytime napping has also been linked to heart disease and increased risks of heart attacks or strokes.

Such napping patterns may further contribute to neurodegenerative disorders that gradually impair vital bodily functions over time.