In the sweltering heat of summer, a good night’s sleep can be hard to come by, and it turns out that men and women might not be on the same page when it comes to what makes for a comfortable night’s rest. A recent study led by Shiteng Tan from the Innovation Institute for Sustainable Maritime Architecture Research and Technology (iSMART) at Qingdao University of Technology has shed some light on this very issue. The research, published in the journal “Results in Engineering” (which translates to “Engineering Results” in English), delves into the gender differences in sleep quality under summer thermal conditions, with a particular focus on air-conditioned dormitories in Qingdao, China.
So, what did they find? Well, it seems that women run a bit hotter than men, literally. The study found that females had a higher mean skin temperature throughout the night and required higher neutral temperatures to feel comfortable. “Females had higher mean skin temperature (34.62 °C) than males (34.42 °C) throughout the night,” Tan explained. This might not sound like a big deal, but it can have a significant impact on sleep quality.
For instance, an increase of just 1°C in indoor air temperature reduced deep sleep duration by about 9.23 minutes for men and 10.58 minutes for women. And when it comes to humidity, higher levels were associated with increased wakefulness after sleep onset in women and reduced rapid eye movement (REM) sleep duration in men. “Higher RH was associated with increased wake after sleep onset in females (+1.14 min/%RH) and reduced rapid eye movement duration in males (–1.80 min/%RH),” Tan added.
So, what does this mean for the maritime industry? Well, for starters, it highlights the importance of understanding and accommodating gender-specific thermal comfort needs in the design of living and working environments on ships and offshore platforms. This could lead to more energy-efficient indoor climate control systems that not only improve comfort but also reduce energy consumption and costs.
Moreover, the findings could have implications for the design of personal sleeping environments, such as cabins and berths, on ships and offshore installations. By tailoring these spaces to meet the specific thermal comfort needs of male and female crew members, operators could potentially improve sleep quality, which in turn could enhance overall performance, safety, and well-being.
In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of considering gender differences in thermal comfort when designing and managing indoor environments, particularly in the maritime sector. By doing so, operators can create more comfortable, energy-efficient, and safe living and working spaces for their crews. As Tan put it, “These findings highlight gender-specific thermal comfort differences during sleep under air-conditioned summer conditions, with practical implications for energy-efficient indoor climate control and the design of personalized sleeping environments.”