Lack of sleep in young people: How it increases the risk of depression
Eight out of ten teenagers in the US don’t get enough sleep, according to a report by the National Sleep Foundation, which recommends 8 to 10 hours of sleep.
According to the foundation’s annual survey, more than 1/3 of teens surveyed reported feeling depressed, and nearly 3/4 said poor sleep worsened their mental health.
John Lopos, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation, said that amid America’s current youth mental health crisis, “it’s important to find more evidence behind the strong connection to sleep, especially as it relates to our children.”
The Sleep Foundation used questionnaires and indices to measure adolescents’ sleep behaviors and mental health, including the Sleep Health Index (SHI), which assesses sleep quality and duration as well as disturbed sleep. This year, it is the first time that researchers have used this indicator in teenagers.
According to the survey, 19% of teenagers received an ‘A’ for their sleep quality, 27% a ‘B’, 25% a ‘C’, 14% a ‘D’, and 15% an ‘F’.
73% of teenagers said their emotional well-being was negatively affected when they slept less than usual. Only 27% said their emotional well-being remained stable even when they slept less than usual.
The researchers also looked at the relationship between sleep and depressive symptoms. One in four was somewhat or very dissatisfied with the length and quality of their sleep. According to the report, these teens were more than five times more likely to report moderate-to-severe symptoms of depression than those who were satisfied with their sleep.
According to a 2021 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 10.2% of high school students had attempted suicide in the past year, compared to about 8% in 2019. The CDC also found that 30% of high school students said they had poor mental health “most of the time.” For girls, the percentage was even higher—40%.
“The study authors stated that teenagers find themselves in a challenging position amidst the ongoing mental health crisis in the US, grappling with distinct challenges and sleep requirements.”
The mental health crisis is partly due to near-constant exposure to social media, in addition to the lingering effects of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic that forced young people to stay at home, isolated from their social circles.