Science Shows That Women Sleep Better Next To Dogs Than Men
It’s a no-brainer that sleep is vital for one’s health. That is why so many researchers study the best way to get good quality shut-eye. However, forget chamomile tea and meditating before bed. New research from Canisius College in New York reveals that women sleep better next to dogs than humans or cats. The study found that women often rate dogs as better bed partners, reporting improved sleep quality with their canine companions.
Christy Hoffman, Ph.D., the lead researcher, suggests that dogs are more beneficial for sleep than other partners. Hoffman conducted a survey involving nearly one thousand women in the United States to gather insights on their sleeping habits. The findings revealed that 55% of the participants shared their beds with at least one dog, while 31% shared with at least one cat. Additionally, 57% of the women slept with a human partner, while the remaining women did not.
Hoffman also explored why dogs seemed to be the ideal bed companions. One key reason is that dogs’ sleep patterns closely align with those of humans, unlike cats. “The difference between dogs and cats is not surprising because dogs’ major sleep periods tend to coincide more closely with humans’ than cats’,” said Hoffman.
While these similar sleep patterns may offer benefits, Hoffman noted that further research is needed to fully understand the effects. However, she shared some ideas on how this could work. “Compared to human bed partners, dogs may be better at adapting to their owner’s sleep schedule,” she explained. “It’s common for human partners to go to bed and wake up at different times, which can disrupt sleep. Dogs, however, may adjust more easily to their owner’s routine.”
Additionally, dogs require consistent schedules, such as morning walks, which help their owners maintain a regular routine, ultimately improving sleep quality.
Stillness and Security
Dogs are also more likely to stay still during the night, unlike fidgety human partners. The women in the study noted that their dogs stayed in bed for most of the night, whereas cats tended to move on and off the bed.
“This suggests that cats may be more disruptive than dogs due to their frequent movement during the night. Additionally, we found that dog owners had more consistent bedtimes and wake times compared to cat owners, often going to bed and waking up earlier,” Hoffman noted.
The third, and perhaps most important, reason dogs make great sleep partners is the sense of security they provide. “Some dog owners feel comforted knowing their dog will alert them to intruders or emergencies. A dog’s bark may even deter a potential intruder, whereas a cat is less likely to take on such a role and may not offer the same sense of psychological security,” Hoffman explained.
The Ideal Sleep Partner
While the study suggests that dogs are the perfect companions for better sleep, their benefits are subjective. For instance, a dog might snore or make the bed uncomfortably warm. Moreover, some owners find that their cats help them sleep better.
It’s important to note that the research focused on how participants perceived the impact of their pets on their sleep quality and duration. Therefore, more objective studies are needed to determine whether dogs truly are superior sleeping partners. Nevertheless, Hoffman believes this line of research is valuable, especially given that many American households have pets.
“It will be important to continue this research to better understand the situations where pets in the bed can positively affect sleep quality, as well as when co-sleeping with a pet may negatively impact sleep,” she said.
For example, prior studies have suggested that women often sleep better alone than with a human partner, though many believe the opposite. Future research might use devices similar to Fitbits to track sleep quality in various sleeping conditions.
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