A recent study that focused on teenagers in Hong Kong suggests that those who stay up later at night and wake up later in the day have a greater chance of struggling with insomnia, as well as behavioral and emotional issues, compared to teens who went to bed earlier.
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong surveyed 4,948 adolescents, ages 12 to 18, about their sleep quality, and mental and physical well-being. Of the group, 23 percent reported going to bed later and waking up later. The researchers identified these students as having an “eveningness” circadian rhythm or being “night owls”.
[Editor’s Note: The content provided on this site is for general informational purposes only. Any medical information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice. We encourage you to consult with the appropriate health expert for your adolescent if you have concerns.]
tongcom photographer/Shutterstock
The Link To Insomnia And Behavioral Problems
Results showed that 52 percent of the night owls had symptoms of insomnia, like falling asleep and staying asleep. This was compared to 34 percent of those surveyed who were neither evening-types or morning-types and 18 percent of morning-types.
Night owls were also 88 percent more likely to experience emotional or physical behavioral issues compared to other adolescents and 25 percent more likely to report mental health problems, according to a report from Reuters.
“Not getting enough sleep or having poor sleep may negatively affect one’s ability to regulate emotions and decision making, thereby contributing to the risk of developing mental health problems,” said lead study author Shirley X. Li of the University of Hong Kong to Reuters.
“There is a bi-directional relationship between sleep disruption and emotional and behavioral problems,” Li said. Poor sleep may lead to mental health issues, and behavioral or emotional problems may also cause difficulties with sleep. ”
Study Limitations
The study was not focused on the connection between sleep and mental health in teens, but rather the connection between adolescent night owls and insomnia symptoms as they relate to mental health and behavioral problems.
One notable limitation of the study was asking students to self-report and recall their own sleep habits and behaviors.
Insomnia was assessed by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and chronotype preference was measured by the reduced version of the Morningness−Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). Emotional and behavioral problems and mental health were assessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), respectively, according to the study.
The Takeaway
Dr. Judith Owens, director of sleep medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and a researcher at Harvard Medical School, who was not involved in the study, told Reuters that the results offer “fresh evidence” on the link between not getting enough sleep, bad sleep quality and both emotional and behavioral teen health.
“While insomnia has been clearly linked to these adverse outcomes in previous studies, this study suggests that insomnia and evening chronotype are independently associated with these outcomes,” Owens said by email to Reuters.
To help teens get more sleep, experts do suggest that limiting nighttime light exposure, like the kind from TV and social media, at night so that teens age 14 to 17 can get the recommended 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night recommended by the National Sleep Foundation.
[Editor’s Note: Just a reminder that the information in this post is not intended to take priority over information provided by a medical professional. If you have questions or concerns, seek out a health expert for you or your child.]
The post Study Results Link Teen Night Owls To Insomnia, Potential Behavioral Issues appeared first on Mattress Clarity.