This week wraps up the annual American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM’s) Student Sleep Health Week. This year, much of the conversation revolved around their recent survey of over 2,000 adults, digging into the most pressing issues regarding students, sleep, and health across the country. (1) They had a simple, yet complicated question — “Which of the following are negatively impacted when your child does not get enough sleep?
Their responses included:
- Mood: 58 percent
- Attitude: 49 percent
- Behavior: 49 percent
- Physical Energy: 44 percent
- Academic Performance: 30 percent
Dr. Rakesh Bhattacherjee, section chief of pediatric sleep medicine at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego and AASM spokesperson, shares that this adds to continued concerns about kids’ sleep and their physical and mental health. (2)
“According to the CDC, between 25-50 percent of children aged 4 months to 14 years do not get enough sleep. This issue is even more pronounced in middle and high school students, where 57.8 percent and 72.7 percent, respectively, experience insufficient sleep,” he says. “The causes of inadequate sleep are multifactorial, ranging from poor sleep hygiene to broader public health factors such as early school start times. In addition to the widespread issue of insufficient sleep, an estimated 10-30 percent of children may have undiagnosed sleep disorders, including insomnia and sleep apnea, which require medical attention.”
He says given what we already know about the well-documented impact on health, mental health, and academics, “these statistics are alarming.” He also shares that as we take steps forward to improve this issue for kids, there are ways that it’s also worsening.
“Public health initiatives have acknowledged the importance of addressing school start times as a key intervention to improve sleep in middle and high school students. In 2019, California took a significant step by passing legislation to delay school start times, potentially allowing students more sleep. While this policy has not been adopted nationwide, it represents an important initial effort in promoting better sleep health among children,” he says.
Namely, sleep hygiene continues to be “inadequately addressed,” he shares. Children are putting themselves to bed using screens, exposing them to blue light, disrupting their melatonin production, and therefore delaying their circadian rhythms. This routine makes it hard to fall asleep. He adds that the widespread use of melatonin — around 20 percent in preteens in the past 30 days — is further evidence they are struggling to fall asleep. (3)
“Social media usage is also linked to mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression, which can further disrupt sleep. Compounding the problem, many children and adolescents consume caffeine, exacerbating their sleep difficulties,” he says.
The new research from student week echoes previous studies, such as the significant role of screen time before bed. A shocking 89 percent of people share they use screens for most or all nights before bed.
When he was part of discussions about delaying school time in San Diego, he remembers students expressing feeling tired and sleepy due to early wake ups and not getting enough sleep. He’s encouraged by students’ interest in sleep health, though.
Students, parents, and the general public who want to support better sleep and therefore better help for kids, can take the following actions:
- Become more educated about the social, academic, and financial pressures facing teens to be more aware of the widespread issue.
- Advocate for your local, state, and federal governments to be a part of pushing back school start times to accommodate students’ natural sleep rhythms
- Students can work to have better sleep hygiene, eliminating screens and caffeine a few hours before bed, and engaging in calming activities, in addition to a consistent bedtime
- Reach out to healthcare providers about your concerns, and be persistent about finding a provider who listens intently and can help
Bhattacherjee adds, “Given that sleep is a fundamental part of life, it is especially important for students to receive comprehensive, accurate information about their sleep health. This knowledge is crucial in addressing the widespread issue of insufficient sleep, which continues to affect the majority of students.”
How Much Sleep Do Kids Need?
What Real Teens and Their Parents Say About Sleep and Mental Health
Why Middle Schoolers Who Don’t Get Enough Sleep Are at Risk For Severe Depression
What the Heck Is Melatonin Spray – And is it Safe for Kids?
Sources
1. AASM, “AASM Sleep Prioritization Survey 2024,” American Academy of Sleep Medicine; https://aasm.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/sleep-prioritization-survey-2024-children-and-teens-not-getting-enough-sleep.pdf; 2024.
2. Bhattacherjee, Rakesh; Author interview. September 2024.
3. Hartstein LE, Garrison MM, Lewin D, Boergers J, LeBourgeois MK. Characteristics of Melatonin Use Among US Children and Adolescents. JAMA Pediatr. 2024;178(1):91–93. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.4749