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Caring and Sleep Disruption among Women in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Emanuela Bianchera
  • Sara Arber

Abstract

Drawing on qualitative research with 27 Italian women aged between 40 and 80 years, this article examines how family structure, gender role expectations and caring roles impact on women's sleep at different points in their life course. Care work shapes sleep quality and duration for the majority of these women. High levels of sleep disturbance were found among women who cared for older frail or disabled relatives. Women caring for young children and adult children living at home also experience decreased sleep quality. When informal care is unsupported, very demanding and stress provoking, sleep disturbance is greater, with women experiencing insomnia, frequent awakenings and light sleep. The article discusses the implications of inadequate welfare provision in Italy, which increases women's unpaid domestic caring work resulting in adverse effects on sleep quality and their overall well being.

Suggested Citation

  • Emanuela Bianchera & Sara Arber, 2007. "Caring and Sleep Disruption among Women in Italy," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 12(5), pages 200-213, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:12:y:2007:i:5:p:200-213
    DOI: 10.5153/sro.1608
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jenny Hislop & Sara Arber & Rob Meadows & Sue Venn, 2005. "Narratives of the Night: The Use of Audio Diaries in Researching Sleep," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 10(4), pages 13-25, December.
    2. Rothgang, Heinz & Comas-Herrera, Adelina & Wittenberg, Raphael & Pickard, Linda & Gori, Cristiano & Di Maio, Alessandra Pozzi & Costa-Font, Joan & Patxot, Concepció, 2004. "The mixed economy of long-term care in England, Germany, Italy, and Spain," Working papers of the ZeS 05/2004, University of Bremen, Centre for Social Policy Research (ZeS).
    3. Gutiérrez-Domènech, Maria, 2003. "Employment after motherhood: a European comparison," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 20046, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Maria Gutierrez-Domenech, 2003. "Employment After Motherhood: A European Comparison," CEP Discussion Papers dp0567, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sara Arber & Jenny Hislop & Marcos Bote & Robert Meadows, 2007. "Gender Roles and Women's Sleep in Mid and Later Life: A Quantitative Approach," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 12(5), pages 182-199, September.
    2. Ruodan Lu & Ziyi Wang & Xiaoming Lin & Liang Guo, 2019. "How Do Family Role Overload and Work Interferance with Family Affect the Life Satisfaction and Sleep Sufficiency of Construction Professionals?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Venn, Susan & Meadows, Robert & Arber, Sara, 2013. "Gender differences in approaches to self-management of poor sleep in later life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 117-123.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gender; Women; Caring; Caregivers; Italy; Sleep;
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