Study Finds Women Need More Sleep Than Men Due to Mental Load

A 2016 sleep laboratory study scientifically confirms that women require more average sleep than men to function properly. Dr. Liraz Margalit, a behavioral researcher specializing in the digital age, discussed the study's findings in an interview on the program "HaOlam HaBoker." She explained that while hormonal changes and menstrual cycles contribute to women's fatigue, the primary reason lies beyond physical factors. Dr. Margalit emphasized the role of "mental load," a psychological concept describing the continuous cognitive effort women invest in managing, planning, and worrying about household and family tasks. This mental burden persists daily and continuously, even when household chores are shared equally, as women often retain responsibility for remembering details, organizing, and ongoing care.