Well, how about that.
Women sleep better next to a dog than with a man, a new study suggests.
Professor Dr Christy L Hoffman from the Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation department at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, led the research.
Her team examined how pets influence sleep quality.
They surveyed 962 women in the US.
Among respondents, 55% shared a bed with at least one dog, and 31% with a cat.
Additionally, 57% said they sleep alongside a human partner.
Hoffman noted the study ‘did not show a strong relationship between pet ownership status or bedsharing conditions and sleep quality as assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index’, but it did reveal:
- Women who slept with a dog reported more restful sleep. They also found dogs less disruptive than human partners and linked them to stronger comfort and security.
- Participants said cats in bed were as disruptive as human partners and provided weaker comfort and security than both dogs and humans.
- Dog owners tended to go to bed earlier and wake earlier than people who only owned cats.
Speaking to Broadly, Hoffman said that the ‘keyword here is perception, this [study is based on] individuals self-reporting how they feel their sleep is affected.’
“It’s important to note that this is based on aggregated data and an average of responses, so getting a dog won’t solve everyone’s sleep problems.”
She added that personal quirks can shape responses, like dogs that snore.
A 2017 study by the Mayo Clinic also found better sleep among people who slept with a dog.
Hoffman’s team still calls for more research on the topic.