scholarly journals Sex differences in sleep and influence of the menstrual cycle on women’s sleep in junior endurance athletes

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0253376
Author(s):  
Maria Hrozanova ◽  
Christian A. Klöckner ◽  
Øyvind Sandbakk ◽  
Ståle Pallesen ◽  
Frode Moen
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Sleep Stages ◽  
Deep Sleep ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep ◽  
Rem Latency ◽  
Light Sleep

Previous research shows that female athletes sleep better according to objective parameters but report worse subjective sleep quality than male athletes. However, existing sleep studies did not investigate variations in sleep and sleep stages over longer periods and have, so far, not elucidated the role of the menstrual cycle in female athletes’ sleep. To address these methodological shortcomings, we investigated sex differences in sleep and sleep stages over 61 continuous days in 37 men and 19 women and examined the role of the menstrual cycle and its phases in 15 women. Sleep was measured by a non-contact radar, and menstrual bleeding was self-reported. Associations were investigated with multilevel modeling. Overall, women tended to report poorer subjective sleep quality (p = .057), but objective measurements showed that women obtained longer sleep duration (p < .001), more light (p = .013) and rapid eye movement sleep (REM; hours (h): p < .001, %: p = .007), shorter REM latency (p < .001), and higher sleep efficiency (p = .003) than men. R2 values showed that sleep duration, REM and REM latency were especially affected by sex. Among women, we found longer time in bed (p = .027) and deep sleep (h: p = .036), and shorter light sleep (%: p = .021) during menstrual bleeding vs. non-bleeding days; less light sleep (h: p = .040), deep sleep (%: p = .013) and shorter REM latency (p = .011) during the menstrual than pre-menstrual phase; and lower sleep efficiency (p = .042) and more deep sleep (%: p = .026) during the follicular than luteal phase. These findings indicate that the menstrual cycle may impact the need for physiological recovery, as evidenced by the sleep stage variations. Altogether, the observed sex differences in subjective and objective sleep parameters may be related to the female athletes’ menstrual cycle. The paper provides unique data of sex differences in sleep stages and novel insights into the role of the menstrual cycle in sleep among female athletes.

Intersexual and Intrasexual Competition and Their Relation to Jealousy

2019 ◽  
pp. 214-236
Author(s):  
Abraham P. Buunk ◽  
Karlijn Massar ◽  
Pieternel Dijkstra ◽  
Ana María Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Mate Guarding ◽  
Intrasexual Competition ◽  
Online Infidelity ◽  
Intersexual Competition

This chapter discusses sex differences in intersexual competition and describes particularly the consequences of such competition for conflict between the sexes, as well as for sex differences in mate guarding and, relatedly, in the types of infidelity that evoke jealousy, including online infidelity. It also discusses individual differences in jealousy as related to attachment styles and describes the effects of height, hormones, and the menstrual cycle on jealousy. Next, the chapter moves on to intrasexual competition and discusses, among other topics, intrasexual competition among men and among women, the role of sex differences in rival characteristics in evoking jealousy, the role of attachment styles and hormones, and individual differences in intrasexual competitiveness.

Cardiorespiratory transfer during sleep: a study in healthy young men

1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (3) ◽  
pp. H952-H958 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Van de Borne ◽  
P. Biston ◽  
M. Paiva ◽  
H. Nguyen ◽  
P. Linkowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breathing Pattern ◽  
Sleep Stages ◽  
Vagal Activity ◽  
Deep Sleep ◽  
Rapid Eye Movement Sleep ◽  
Nocturnal Sleep ◽  
Healthy Men ◽  
Consistent Increase ◽  
Respiratory Modulation ◽  
Light Sleep

This study tested the concept that changes in breathing parameters account for modifications in respiratory-related blood pressure (BP) and R-R interval (RRI) variability during nocturnal sleep. BP (Finapres), electrocardiogram, respiration (Respitrace), and polygraphic sleep recordings were recorded continuously in 13 healthy men aged 18-37 yr. The transfer characteristics identified by coherence and gain measures between the calibrated thoraco-abdominal motion and the respiratory-related BP and RRI variability evidenced a consistent increase during transitions from wake to light sleep and from light to deep sleep but returned to waking levels during rapid-eye-movement sleep (P < 0.0001). These changes were related to the specific modifications occurring in the respiratory rate, tidal volume, and ribcage-to-abdominal motion ratio during the different sleep stages (0.28 < r < 0.39; P < 0.0001). This study demonstrates 1) that modifications in the breathing pattern account for 8-15% of the variance in the cardiorespiratory transfer, and 2) that respiratory modulation of vagal activity is not the main mechanism controlling the magnitude of the respiratory-related BP and RRI variability during sleep.

scholarly journals A mysterious sensation about sleep and health: the role of interoception

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Arora ◽  
Mariapaola Barbato ◽  
Shaikha Al Hemeiri ◽  
Omar M. Omar ◽  
Maryam A. AlJassmi
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Emotional Awareness ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Sleep Health ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Subjective Sleep ◽  
Sleep Impairment

Abstract Background Interoception is mental awareness, recognition and acknowledgement of physiological body signals. Understanding the role of sleep and interoception may provide a better understanding surrounding the sleep-health connection. Our primary objective was to examine the potential relationships between subjective sleep quality and multiple dimensions of interoceptive abilities in a large sample of young adults, a group who are vulnerable to sleep impairment and its widespread health consequences. Methods We conducted an online cross-sectional survey targeting young adults, aged 18–25 years. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to identify subjective sleep quality and the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness Version 2 was used to assess eight domains of interoception. We conducted a series of Spearman’s bivariate correlations to assess the relationships between global sleep quality as well as the seven PSQI sub-components in relation to the eight interoception outcomes. We then conducted quantile regression to assess if global PSQI score was an independent predictor of interoception. Participants (n = 609) consented and provided data. Results After adjustment, the global PSQI was a significant predictor of ‘Non-Distracting’, ‘Emotional Awareness’ and ‘Trusting’, where β = − 0.10 (95% CI: − 0.14, − 0.07), β = 0.05 (0.01, 0.09), and β = − 0.10 (− 0.14, − 0.05), respectively. Conclusions Our findings reveal a small, significant relationship between sleep quality and interoceptive abilities amongst young adults. Sleep impairment may inhibit interoceptive skills, thus adding value to the mechanistic explanation of the sleep-health relationship. Experimental and prospective studies are needed to determine temporal associations.

Sex differences in factors associated with poor subjective sleep quality in athletes

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Kawasaki ◽  
Takatoshi Kasai ◽  
Natsue Koikawa ◽  
Naoko Hanazato ◽  
Shoko Suda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep ◽  
Factors Associated

The Role of Environmental Context in Modulating Subjective Sleepiness and Sleep Quality in the Elderly: A Comparison Between Home-Dwelling Subjects and Nursing Home Residents

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-86
Author(s):  
Francesca Conte ◽  
Serena Malloggi ◽  
Benedetta Albinni ◽  
Mariangela Cerasuolo ◽  
Gianluca Ficca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Environmental Context ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Sleep Habits ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep ◽  
Healthy Elderly

This study investigated the role of environmental context in modulating subjective sleep quality and sleepiness in healthy elderlies living at home or in a nursing home. Twenty-five home-dwelling subjects and 18 nursing home residents rated their sleepiness hourly from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. for three nonconsecutive days. Sleep quality, lifestyle, and sleep habits were also evaluated. Compared with home-dwelling subjects, nursing home residents showed a more sedentary lifestyle, advanced bedtime and awakening time, and a relatively stable vigilance level during the waking period. No differences emerged for subjective sleep quality and global vigilance levels between the two groups. Life in a nursing home does not affect sleep quality and global vigilance in healthy elderly subjects, but contributes to flatten their vigilance daily fluctuations. Including nursing home residents in daily activities could be useful to improve their conscious feeling of alertness variations.

scholarly journals Cannabis Use and Sleep: A look at the Expectations, Outcomes, and the Role of Age

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan Winiger ◽  
Leah Hitchcock ◽  
Angela Bryan ◽  
Cinnamon Bidwell
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep ◽  
Age Range ◽  
The Relationship

Objectives: Estimate the associations between cannabis use with expectations of cannabis being a sleep aid, subjective sleep outcomes, and the influence of age on these relationships. Methods: In 152 moderate cannabis users (67% female, mean age = 31.45, SD = 12.96, age range = 21-70) we assessed the influence of cannabis use history and behaviors on expectations of cannabis being a sleep aid and subjective sleep outcomes via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). We used moderation analysis to examine the role of age in the relationship between cannabis use and subjective sleep outcomes. Results: Cannabis use along with more frequent cannabis use were associated with increased expectations that cannabis use improves sleep (all β > 0.03, p < 0.04). Frequency of recent cannabis use and reported average THC or CBD concentration were largely not associated with subjective sleep outcomes. However, endorsing current cannabis use was associated with worse subjective sleep quality (β = 1.34, p = 0.02) and increased frequency of consuming edibles was associated with worse subjective sleep efficiency (β = 0.03, p = 0.04), lower sleep duration (β = 0.03, p = 0.01), and higher global PSQI scores (worse overall sleep) (β = 0.10, p = 0.01). Furthermore, age was determined to have a moderating influence on the relationship between increased concentration of CBD and both better sleep duration and sleep quality (both p < 0.03). Conclusion: Cannabis users have higher expectations of cannabis being a sleep aid, but few associations existed between cannabis use and subjective sleep outcomes with the exceptions of endorsing any cannabis use and frequency of edible use. Additionally, age may be an important moderator of the potential positive influence CBD concentration can have on sleep.

scholarly journals Neurobiological and Hormonal Mechanisms Regulating Women’s Sleep

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alanna Dorsey ◽  
Luis de Lecea ◽  
Kimberly J. Jennings
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Current Literature ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ovarian Hormones ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Subjective Sleep

Sleep is crucial for optimal well-being, and sex differences in sleep quality have significant implications for women’s health. We review the current literature on sex differences in sleep, such as differences in objective and subjective sleep measures and their relationship with aging. We then discuss the convincing evidence for the role of ovarian hormones in regulating female sleep, and survey how these hormones act on a multitude of brain regions and neurochemicals to impact sleep. Lastly, we identify several important areas in need of future research to narrow the knowledge gap and improve the health of women and other understudied populations.

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