Part II of a three-part series on "Sleepless"
Moodiness, attitude and acting out are just normal aspects of the teenage years, right? Maybe not, according to public health researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. How well children sleep, or don’t sleep, may cause a stunning “twofold to fivefold” increase in personal problems.
“Chronic insomnia severely impacts the future health and functioning of youths,” says Robert E. Roberts, PhD, a professor of health promotion and behavioral sciences at the UT School of Public Health and lead author of a study on insomnia and adolescents in the March issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.
The study found that adolescents with chronic insomnia were much more likely to have problems with drug use, depression, schoolwork, jobs and poor perceived health.
While chronic insomnia is frequently associated with stressed-out adults, it also is common in children and teens. An estimated 27 percent of the more than 4100 children ages 11 to 17 in the study had one or more symptoms of insomnia. These included difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, early morning awakening and non-restorative sleep over a period of four weeks. An estimated 7 percent of the children studied had one or more symptoms of insomnia plus daytime fatigue or sleepiness or both.
When more than 3100 of the study participants were followed up a year later, 46 percent had chronic symptoms of insomnia and 22 percent met diagnostic criteria for chronic insomnia.
Insomnia robs pre-teens and teens of the precious sleep they need to grow and develop. On average, teens need more than nine hours of sleep each night to function, compared to seven to eight hours for adults. Sleep patterns also change during the teen years. It may be normal for teens not to fall asleep until 11 p.m. and wake up later in the morning than adults or younger children.
For over-scheduled pre-teens and teens, tackling challenging schoolwork, juggling jobs and navigating the responsibilities of becoming adults may make it hard for them to switch off their brains at night and go to sleep. Compounding the problem, many school districts start schools before 8 a.m., a time sleep experts say is too early for late-rising teens. Based on research showing teens need more sleep, some school districts have instituted later start times, but most high schools in the United States still start before 7:30 a.m.
As any adult can attest—at least those who rely on double-espressos or a few cans of Red Bull, getting little sleep makes you feel irritable and “off your game.” Consistently not getting enough sleep impairs a person’s judgment and ability to function normally, and may lead to depression, which in turn interferes with sleep.
“When my daughter doesn't sleep well, she's more fatigued in the morning and her mood is worse,” says Heather*, whose 15-year-old daughter has depression, ADHD and bipolar disorder. “She gets angry and frustrated more easily without sleep. She also forgets things and is less organized.”
Heather adds that her daughter’s insomnia often keeps her awake all night and causes her to fall asleep in class the next day.
“Sleeping in class leads to her not doing her daily class work and ultimately, missing homework assignments because she does not hear what has to be done,” Heather says.
If teens cope with their lack of sleep by using drugs or alcohol to improve their moods, or stimulants in drinks or pills to help keep them awake—they unwittingly create a vicious cycle for themselves. Drugs and alcohol interfere with sleep, which begets depression, which begets poor sleep.
“We indeed have found that behavioral and emotional problems predict sleep problems including insomnia and sleep deprivation, and that the reverse is also true,” Roberts says. “So there is a reciprocal relationship.”
Because they feel so lousy, pre-teens and teens with chronic insomnia are more likely to seek medical care. Roberts suggests that health care professionals might gain more insight into their patients' health if they routinely ask adolescents how they are sleeping.
“The study data suggest that primary care settings might provide a venue for screening and early intervention of adolescent insomnia,” Roberts says.
Parents also should watch for signs of sleep problems in their children. If your child has difficulty getting up in the morning, wakes up looking tired and not feeling “refreshed,” or complains of sleepiness during the day, he or she may have a sleep problem.
What’s a parent to do? First, check your child’s environment to eliminate factors that could cause sleep problems. Having a television or a computer in the bedroom engages the mind, interferes with sleep, and has been found to contribute to obesity according to studies in the April issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Then, help your child establish healthy sleep routines, such as going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, avoiding exercising late in the day and cutting back on or eliminating caffeine.
If your child continues to sleep poorly, it may be time for a visit to the doctor. Your child’s doctor may refer you to a sleep specialist for additional help diagnosing the cause of his or her sleep problem. A sleep specialist also will work with you and your child on strategies to improve his or her quality and quantity of sleep.
A good night’s sleep is an essential part of your child’s health and well being, Roberts says.
“Our results add to growing evidence that the burden of insomnia among adolescents constitutes a major public health problem, with rates comparable to other major psychiatric disorders such as depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, disruptive disorders, and substance abuse, and deserves greater attention from health professionals,” Roberts notes.
*First name only has been used in the interest of privacy.
Last Updated: 8-06-2008Editorial Board | Legal Disclaimer | Privacy & Security | Contact Us
©2000-2009 Office of Institutional Advancement, UT-Houston
Follow us on:
Dr. Robert Roberts is a professor of Behavioral Sciences at the UT School of Public Health.
Packing Bag Lunches Safely
If you pack lunches for your child to take to school, be careful that you do not accidentally expose them to foodborne illness.
Bagged lunches, especially those containing perishable foods, need to be packed and handled properly in order to keep the food safe. In general, perishable foods should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. If left out too long, the temperature of the food can enter the danger zone where bacteria grow most rapidly, which is between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Below are some tips to help families pack bagged lunches safely:
Before eating lunch or snacks at school, make sure your child washes his or her hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If your child's school does not have a handwashing program in place, encourage them to adopt a such a program, as handwashing is one of the best ways kids and parents can protect health and stop the spread of germs.
