‘Teens increasingly sleep-deprived,’ says study

The number of hours teenagers sleep has decreased over the last 20 years and many are getting less than the recommended nine hours a night, reports a large study from Columbia University in the U.S. Although the subjects were American, specialists say the results apply to Canadians teens as well.

“Tiredness and lack of sleep can lead to obesity and weight gain, can lead to depression and anxiety, and overall teens just won’t function as well and may not reach their educational and functional potential,” says Dr. Atul Khullar, medical director of the Northern Alberta sleep clinic.

ListenBiology is part of the problem

“Teens are biologically set to get up later and go to bed later,” says Khullar, noting their circadian rhythms are different. Although this study did not detail other reasons why teens get less sleep there are several theories including the use of electronics, light from these devices, competitive college entrance processes, pressure to both work and go to school, and long commutes to school.

Delaying the start of high school classes is one way some school jurisdictions in Canada have tried to tackle the problem. Others are considering this strategy too.

‘Make sleep a priority’

At home, parents should make sleep a priority for themselves in order to set an example, says Khullar. They should keep televisions out of the bedroom and ask that electronic devices be turned off 15 minutes before bedtime. He adds that parents should let their teens sleep as late as possible in the morning, noting that even small changes can add up over a week.

This study concludes “Declines in self-reported adolescent sleep across the last 20 years are concerning and suggest that there is potentially a significant public health concern that warrants health education and literacy approaches.”