Teens Lose Sleep: Screens & Stress Steal Rest

New research indicates a significant and ongoing decline in sleep duration among teenagers. Findings from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, published in Pediatrics, show that less than a quarter of older adolescents are getting at least seven hours of sleep nightly. Traditional pressures such as homework, extracurricular activities, social expectations, and part-time jobs continue to affect sleep. However, the study points to modern influences like constant screen access, social media, and broader societal anxieties, including the pandemic and social unrest, as significant contributors.

The study also identified worsening disparities in sleep outcomes. Black and Latino teens, alongside adolescents from families with lower parental education levels, are increasingly less likely to achieve adequate sleep compared to their peers. Sleep time consistently diminishes as adolescents age, with both duration and perceived sufficiency of rest declining notably from early to later teen years.

Researchers analyzed data from over 400,000 U.S. students surveyed between 1991 and 2023. Insufficient sleep is associated with immediate exhaustion and impaired daily functioning, as well as increased risks for mental health problems, academic struggles, and chronic conditions later in life. Some experts suggest that deeper issues like social isolation and burnout might underlie the surge in screen time. Students have expressed a need for more time and space to cope with academic pressure, recommending schools and communities prioritize time for rest and stress-management activities.

While a single nationwide solution is unlikely, broader structural changes are recommended. These include potentially delaying high school start times to 8:30 AM or later, aligning better with adolescent circadian rhythms. The overarching goal is to foster a culture that values sleep and implements policies promoting healthy sleep habits for all adolescents, emphasizing that a nation of sleep-deprived teens is not an unavoidable outcome.