Study: Women with Kids Struggle to Find Sufficient Sleep

It is widely acknowledged that having a child changes a person. For some people, children bring them positive, added doses of happiness, maturity and responsibility. However, there’s also the downside of children acting out, making messes and costing lots of money to feed, clothe and entertain.

According to a new study, women 45 years of age and younger experience one really tough reality when having children: a lack of sufficient sleep (less than six hours per night).

“I think these findings may bolster those women who say they feel exhausted,” said study author Kelly Sullivan, PhD, of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Ga., and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “Our study found not only are they not sleeping long enough, they also report feeling tired throughout the day.”

For the study, researchers looked into how various factors like household income, body mass index, exercise, employment, marital status and children, and how they relate to sleep deprivation.

After polling 2,908 women 45 years of age or younger, researchers determined that the primary factor for their lack of sleep was having children.

“Researchers found the only factor associated with getting enough sleep was having children in the house, with each child increasing the odds of insufficient sleep by nearly 50 percent,” reads a media release regarding the study. “For women under 45, 48 percent of women with children reported getting at least seven hours of sleep, compared to 62 percent of women without children.”

What’s more, it was discovered that women of this age bracket with children felt tired 14 days per month, compared to 11 days for younger women who don’t have kids.

Although the study didn’t state what might help these women get more sleep with children in the house, might we suggest industrial strength earplugs and a sturdy lock for the bedroom door? Oh, a dedicated partner or babysitter could also do a world of good!

-Adam Grant