Happily Married Women Sleep Easy

by Terri Potratz | January 29, 2009 at 11:55 am

1145 views | 20 Recommendations | 16 comments

A recent study at the Univeristy of Pittsburgh which examined the sleeping habits of nearly 2,000 middle-aged married women found that those who reported fewer sleep disturbances were also the happiest with their marriages. Additional variables such as ethnicity and other factors were also taken into account:

Participants were asked to rate their degree of happiness in their marriage from 1 to 7, with 7 being the happiest. They were also asked if they had difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or whether they woke early without being able to return to sleep.

The researchers looked at several other factors that might contribute to sleeplessness, such as a woman's social support network, depressive symptoms, economic hardship and employment status, alcohol and caffeine consumption, presence of children in the home, sexual activity, age, and hormonal status.

African-American women were more likely to suffer from sleep disturbances than Japanese, Hispanic and Chinese women, while white and Japenese women reported the highest levels of marital happiness.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | Digg | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Fusty Box

at 15:03 on January 29th, 2009

Maybe it's to do with cultural difference. Sadly I think that my erstwhile Japanese wife was more interested in the perceived wealth than the commitment of marriage. i don't care how she sleeps

kitty28806

at 15:00 on January 29th, 2009

If you want to see more of my work please go to this

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kitty28806/

Tasha

kitty28806 has contributed a photo to this story.

Paschen

at 15:42 on January 29th, 2009

Interesting, Would that be the case for Man as well? I think Children may be a big change in that equation, I know I can no longer sleep with out worrying about my Children even though they are now grown up.

bridgetmckenz

at 17:19 on January 29th, 2009

Almost all the people you see in Benidorm in Spain are over 55 and couples. I'd never seen so many couples holding hands or linking arms. I decided to talk to and photograph some couples, asking them about what makes them happy and about their hopes for the future.

bridgetmckenz has contributed a photo to this story.

BobbiTG4M

at 18:14 on January 29th, 2009

I am a 35 year old Spanish woman married to a Black Cuban man and we have five children, ranging from teens to toddlers. Thanks for requesting to use my Spehia photo of my husband and I sleeping at Chicago airport on the way to the inauguration (which was amazing).

As far as sleep goes. I think 'good sleep' is all in the eye of the sleeper. I am one of the few that think sleeping is a waste of time. So, I sleep less than 6 hours a night, and even then I am up for short bits tending to 'night duty' during most of that and awake by 5 am without an alarm. If I had a choice I wouldn't sleep. I do not drink caffiene, I work out and am healthy. I have more time to do what I want, so I finished my second book, am a filmmaker and artist and an avid blogger.

So, if you ask me 'Am I happy'? I am because I choose to be. I sleep because I have to, but I am happy with any choice I make. I think happiness comes first, then you decide what your going to be happy about. : )

www.WomenWithoutBorders.us

Bobbi Miller-Moro

BobbiTG4M

at 17:25 on January 29th, 2009

Funny, I didn't see the Spanish comment before mine, until I posted mine. lol

lefty_liberated

at 18:14 on January 29th, 2009

interesting stuff

weallwhisper

at 19:46 on January 29th, 2009

This is a self portrait of my boyfriend and I. It's one of my favorite photos that we have taken together because it has "I love you" written all over it.

weallwhisper has contributed a photo to this story.

beth retro

at 23:30 on January 29th, 2009

Beth Retro Photography- www.flickr.com/dreamincolour

i have contributed a photo to this story.

pamela_1987

at 10:49 on January 30th, 2009

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamela1987/

pamela_1987 has contributed a photo to this story.

Paul Ransom

at 13:30 on January 30th, 2009

This was taken 42 years ago (1966). We still have the stylized balsa wood cats pictures hidden away. Tonkin the cat, about 1 in the picture, lived until he was 18. A subsequent Siamese cat, Suki, lived for 22 years. We now have a rescue cat. During that time we started our family and raised two wonderful children who have been on their own for about 18 years. Scanning the slide collection has been underway for over a month, so at that rate the many years of our great memories will be relived for several more.

Paul Ransom has contributed a photo to this story.

ddamredhead

at 18:45 on January 31st, 2009

this is my daughter and her soon to be husband they are very happy and I know she is sleeping much better !

ddamredhead has contributed a photo to this story.

austindara

at 09:57 on February 2nd, 2009

Re: the photo of the groom kissing the bride's cheek: Terry & Kimberly will no doubt be happy for the many years to come, and I think this photo shows that. My wife and I were privileged and blessed to shoot their wedding. see more Santa Barbara wedding photography.

austindara has contributed a photo to this story.

ipozzolo

at 10:51 on February 2nd, 2009

To add to the Spanish thread, I married a Spaniard from the Canary Islands and I never could have imagined my life would ever be so happy. He makes me feel loved, respected, secure and beautiful - I sleep like a baby, especially in his arms. I don't necessarily sleep a great amount but when I do it is deep and uninterrupted. The only time I ever lose sleep is if I think of what I would do if I ever lost him...