Adults may live longer, more successful lives with less sleep, [1] but adolescents need their rest. The Sleep in America Poll [2] has revealed what many parents probably already know: American teenagers can't keep their eyes open.
The sleep deprived statistics look like this:
- Only 20 percent of children between 11 and 17 get the nine hours of sleep recommended during the school week, while 45 percent get less than eight hours.
- About 30 percent of adolescents doze off in class at least once a week and 14 percent are regularly late to classes because they over-sleep.
- Sleep-deprived students are more likely to get poor grades, while 80 percent of those who get a solid night's sleep receive good or excellent grades.
According to experts at the Sleep Foundation [3], these numbers represent a significant reduction in teens' nightly sleep as they graduate from middle school to high school.
"This is particularly troubling as adolescence is a critical period of development and growth - academically, emotionally and physically," said Sleep Foundation President Richard Gelula. "At a time of heightened concerns about the quality of this next generation's health and education, our nation is ignoring a basic necessity for success in these areas: adequate sleep."
I'm sorry to learn that that the teenagers in my life are so exhausted, but I'm glad to finally have a clear explanation for the Saturday afternoons I slept away when I was in high school. When children reach adolescence their circadian rhythms [4] make them uncontrollably more nocturnal. Teens are predisposed to stay up late and sleep late the next day. Since most American high school students have to get to school by 7:30 a.m., fatigue is practically unavoidable.
You can learn more about teens and sleep here [5].
[via Mail and Guardian [6]]
Image: Sleep Foundation