Research indicates that many teenagers are not meeting the recommended sleep guidelines, with some reporting less than five hours of sleep per night, which can adversely affect their health. A recent study involving over 120,000 high school students found that nearly 77% are falling short of the recommended amount of sleep on school nights, a notable increase from 69% in 2007. Alarmingly, nearly one in four teens now report sleeping five hours or less per night.
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Tara Narula, ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent, noted that biological changes during adolescence make it more challenging for teenagers to go to bed on time. This trend is evident across various demographics, although non-Hispanic Black teens have experienced the most significant increases in sleep deprivation.
The study suggests that teens exhibiting symptoms of depression, bullying, or suicidal thoughts are more likely to get less sleep, but sleep deprivation is also prominent among those without these factors. Researchers attribute this trend to various pressures in teens' lives, extending beyond just screen time. A separate review of over 4,500 children and young adults found that increased overall screen time correlates with later bedtimes, although it does not necessarily lead to poorer sleep quality or shorter sleep duration. However, using screens while in bed was associated with worse sleep that night, supporting the "sleep displacement hypothesis," where screen use inhibits sleep time.
Narula recommends that parents remove screens from bedrooms, encourage turning off devices before bedtime, promote physical exercise, ensure exposure to sunlight during the day, and maintain a consistent bedtime routine on both weekdays and weekends.
According to the CDC, approximately 15% of teens report feeling tired most days of the week, with recommendations suggesting that teenagers should aim for eight to ten hours of sleep per night. Additionally, an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association identifies school start times as a significant factor influencing sleep insufficiency, proposing that later school start times—preferably at 8:30 a.m. or later—could enhance sleep duration for teenagers.