Factors Influencing Sleep Quality and Gender Differences: A Literature Review

Sleep is an essential process for mental and physical health. However, a substantial proportion of individuals report sleep disturbances, which exhibit significant gender differences. This literature review aims to examine the biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors that influence sleep quality, with a focus on gender-based differences. Women are found to have longer sleep latency, higher psychological distress, and a greater prevalence of insomnia symptoms, while men more frequently experience short sleep duration and are at higher risk for sleep apnea. Despite women showing longer total sleep durations and greater amounts of slow-wave sleep in objective measures, they report lower subjective sleep satisfaction. Drawing upon numerous peer-reviewed studies, this review identifies key gender disparities in sleep latency, duration, efficiency, psychological distress, and vulnerability to sleep disorders. It also highlights the role of hormonal variation, stress, lifestyle, and cultural expectations in shaping sleep experiences. Findings suggest that tailored, gender-specific approaches may be critical for improving sleep health in various populations.