Teenagers and Sleep: The Impact on Mental Health

It’s Saturday morning, and your teenager wants to sleep in. According to the experts, you should let them. Teenagers need more sleep than adults and don’t often get it. In fact, more than 70% of teenagers aren’t catching enough Z’s during the week.

Given the effects a lack of sleep can have on a growing body, having a tired teenager may be a bigger problem than you thought. The teenage years are a time of incredible physical and mental growth. Young people who are tired are more likely to get into car accidents, experience depression, and deal with other unfortunate side effects.

How much sleep should teens get?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 need 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. That’s more than adults need; most people over the age of 18 can get by on just 7 hours of sleep.

According to Michigan State University, many teenagers struggle to get enough rest. The school says 70 to 80% of teenagers get less than 8 hours of sleep per night, and 30 to 40% of teenagers get less than 6 hours of sleep each night.

What’s impacting teen sleep?

There are several common reasons that teenagers get less sleep than recommended. Some of these reasons can’t be totally avoided, but certain lifestyle changes can help teenagers achieve a better sleep schedule.

Stress

Dealing with stress can make it harder for teenagers to get enough quality sleep. According to a 2022 study based on a self-reported questionnaire, stress is more likely to result in poor sleep for teenage girls than boys. However, all teenagers may struggle to fall asleep if their minds are racing.

Puberty

The UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescents explains that biological shifts in the adolescent brain can turn young people into night owls. Natural changes associated with puberty push teenagers’ circadian rhythm by about 2 hours. This can make it harder to fall asleep when they used to. Coupled with early morning school start times, it can become difficult to achieve 8 hours of slumber.

Busy schedules

Increasingly busy schedules may also hinder teen sleep. Kids who are balancing a social life, sports practice, homework and home life may be so busy that getting 10 hours of sleep is often unachievable unless they shed some obligations.

Worry

A lack of sleep can increase worry and anxiety in teenagers, leading to a vicious cycle of sleep deprivation and heightened stress levels.