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. According to new research, women sleep better next to dogs. That’s right; Canisius College in New York State conducted a study that found that canines make better-sleeping partners than humans or cats.
“We found that women commonly rate dogs as better bed partners than cats and human partners and report that their dogs enhance their sleep quality,” Christy Hoffman, Ph.D., animal behaviorist and lead researcher of the study.
Research Finds that Women Sleep Better Next to Dogs
Hoffman surveyed almost one thousand women living in the United States to come to these findings. The results showed that 55% of the participants shared their bed with at least one dog and 31% with at least one cat. Also, 57% of these women shared a bed with a human partner, while the rest did not. [1]
Hoffman also discovered why dogs seemed to make the best bed companions. The first reason is that dogs’ sleeping patterns, as opposed to cats, more closely resemble those of humans.
“The difference between dogs and cats is not surprising because dogs’ major sleep periods tend to coincide more closely with humans’ than do cats,’” said Hoffman.
However, while there may be benefits of these similar sleeping patterns, more research is needed to know for certain. But Hoffman has some ideas of how this could work.
“In comparison to human bed partners, dogs may be better at accommodating their human’s sleep schedule,” she said. “It’s not uncommon for human bed partners to go to bed at very different times and wake up at very different times. Such differences in partners’ schedules can certainly disrupt sleep. It may be that dog bed partners adapt more readily to their owner’s schedule than do human bed partners.”
Moreover, dogs require certain schedules and responsibilities, such as a morning walk. This kind of regime helps their owners maintain a routine, improving sleep quality as a result.
Stillness and Security
Additionally, dogs tend to stay stiff as they sleep. Anyone who’s slept with a fidgety partner knows how disruptive they could be. However, women in the study reported that their dogs stayed on the bed most of the night instead of felines, who tended to come and go.
“This suggests that cats may be more likely than dogs to create disruptions by moving on and off the bed during the night. In addition, we found that dog owners kept to more consistent bedtime and wake time schedules than cat owners and also tended to go to bed earlier and wake up earlier than cat owners,” Hoffman said.
Here’s the third and most important reason: Canines provide a sense of security to their owners. More so than with cats or even human partners.
“Some dog owners may take comfort in the thought that their dog will alert them in the case of an intruder or other type of emergency; furthermore, a dog’s bark may deter a potential intruder. A cat is less likely to take on this role, and so, may not provide psychological comfort in the same way a dog might,” said Hoffman.
The Best Partner for Quality Sleep
However, while the study suggests that dogs are the perfect slumber buddies, their benefits are subjective to each case. For example, a dog could snore or make the bed too hot. Additionally, there are many owners who find that their cats help them sleep.
Keep in mind that the research was based on how the volunteers perceive their pets’ effects on their sleeping quality and duration. As a result, more objective research is needed to definitively consider dogs the superior sleeping partners. However, Hoffman believes that these studies could be beneficial as many American households have pets.
“It will be valuable to continue this line of research so we can develop a clearer picture of the contexts under which pets and their presence in their owner’s bed may positively impact sleep quality, and the contexts under which co-sleeping with a pet may be detrimental to one’s sleep quality,” she said.
For instance, research has also shown that women sleep better while alone than with a human, but many believe in the opposite. Future research could use Fitbit-like devices to objectively track the sleep quality of people in different sleeping conditions.
Lia Thomas Bows Out of Competitive Swimming, Says “Nobody Wants Me On Their Team”
Lia Thomas, a well-known swimmer, made the unexpected and intensely emotional decision to give up competitive swimming, citing an emotionally taxing journey and a sense of loneliness in a statement posted yesterday. Thomas, a transgender athlete, has served as the focal point of many discussions about fairness, gender, and the integrity of competition in women’s sports.
Lia’s statement reads: “The waters have been turbulent, not due to the physical demands but the constant battle to seek acceptance and fairness in a sport I adore. No athlete should feel isolated or singled out for their identity rather than recognized for their achievements.”
This choice was made following months of acrimonious discussions, petitions, and arguments about transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. She has shed light on the difficulties faced by transgender athletes both inside and outside of their chosen sporting arenas as a result of her trip through the turbulent waters of public scrutiny, policy discussions, and ethical issues.
Supporters of Thomas contend that her retirement from professional swimming is a big loss for the sport and highlights the need for a nuanced, compassionate, and inclusive strategy for athletes navigating their careers amidst difficult identity discussions. Meanwhile, her detractors have scrutinised her accomplishments and linked them to alleged physiological advantages.
The sports world is forced to look into the reflected waters of ethical, biological, and societal factors surrounding transgender athletes as we negotiate the fallout from Thomas’s withdrawal. The question is: How will this moment influence how competitive sports develop in the future, and how will the conversations impact how future athletes’ experiences are entangled with one another’s stories?
Lia Thomas’s decision to retire from competitive swimming is more than just a personal one; it’s a momentous occasion that calls for a moment of communal reflection on the chances, acceptance, and spaces we provide for all athletes, regardless of their gender identity.
Beyond the upheaval and hardship Thomas experienced personally, her narrative emphasises the need for the international athletic community to create a setting that is egalitarian and fair, upholding the integrity of competition while being welcoming and respectful of the varied identities of athletes. This applies to all participants, regardless of gender identity or experience, including athletes who identify as transgender.
But the problem still exists: how can inclusivity and fairness be balanced in a field that has traditionally been divided along biological lines? Thomas’s experience highlights the need to review sporting regulations, especially those that touch on gender identity and biological differences. Recognising that the policies of the past might no longer be appropriate or comprehensive for the athletes of today and tomorrow may bring her followers and opponents together.
The discussion of the physiological, psychological, and ethical aspects of this issue necessitates a rigorous, objective, and sympathetic assessment as it spreads into many contexts, from locker rooms to legislative chambers. Expertise from endocrinologists to ethicists, players to administrators is needed in the discussion over transgender athletes, their biology, and their right to compete.
The conversation surrounding Lia Thomas has ranged from fervent support to sharp scepticism. Others emphasise the psychological and physical effects of transitioning, which can be physically and emotionally draining. Some claim that transgender women may have physiological benefits over cisgender women.
Underneath the scientific, moral, and competitive dimensions of the discussion, there is a fundamentally human element that deserves priority: respect and empathy for the lived experiences of all athletes, which acknowledges their challenges, victories, and sacrifices made in the name of excellence.
Critical questions are raised by Thomas’s departure, necessitating an intersectional strategy that balances inclusivity and fair competition. This takes into account things like hormone levels, physical characteristics, and how these could affect competitive advantages or disadvantages in the sporting sphere. These questions can’t be answered in a simple or one-dimensional way.
We are witnesses to an athlete who achieved the summit of accomplishment but found the path to be tainted by scrutiny, seclusion, and protracted controversy over her basic right to compete. Thomas’s declaration and subsequent withdrawal from competition offer a significant and moving opportunity for thought that goes well beyond the realm of sports.
The effects of Thomas’s withdrawal will unavoidably be felt throughout the sports community, inspiring athletes, governing bodies, and fans to consider how we can foster a culture that recognises and honours all athletes for their commitment, talent, and athletic accomplishments, free from exclusion or bias.
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