Abstract
Sleep loss can disrupt neuron growth in the brain during adolescence, a critical period for cognitive development. Only 7.6% of teens get the recommended 9-10 hours of sleep. This study evaluates the relationship between sleep and adolescent mental health, which impacts physical health, safety and performance. The rise by 200% of disability and death rates during adolescence may be related to mental health. 160 people participated: 62 males and 98 females ranging in age from 14-17. Participants completed a 3-part assessment: a questionnaire assessing their sleep habits, an anxiety scale (AFARS), and a depression scale (CDS-DC). Multiple regression analyses were used to determine the extent to which sleep-related factors predict depression and anxiety. The overall depression and anxiety models were significant. School start time was a significant predictor of depression, and often being tired at school predicted anxiety. School start time predicted depression; however, it was not a significant predictor of anxiety. While an early school start time has been found to have many significant negative outcomes, the average high school starts at 7:30. The findings of this study imply that the benefit of offering a later school start outweigh potential inconveniences.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.