Research Links Sleep Deprivation to Risky Behaviors in Teens

This study found that students who averaged less than 6 hours of sleep a night were twice as likely to report smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, using marijuana or driving under the influence. This same group was also 3 times more likely than others to experience suicide ideation and were also more likely to carry weapons or get involved in a fight. The study includes a caveat though—the survey only suggests an association between poor sleep and these behaviors but does not prove that one causes the other. Another revealing study on the matter was carried out by scientists at the Idaho State University. This extensive study gathered information from over 6,500 teens in a series of waves — from 1994 to 1995, 1996 and from 2001 to 2002. Researchers then analyzed and compared sleep data from the earlier waves in relation to substance abuse data to that of later waves. They found that those with sleep issues like insomnia or difficulties staying asleep or those who received insufficient sleep were more likely to be current users of marijuana, alcohol and illicit drugs. Both studies found that sleep deprivation was common among teens with less than a third of students in the first study and 45% of those in the second one not getting enough sleep. The Bi-Directional Relationship between Sleep and Risky Behaviors in Teens The question then becomes how does sleep influence risky behavior in teenagers? The relationship between the two appears to be bi-directional meaning t...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Children and Teens Research Sleep Students Success & Achievement Adolescence Effects Of Sleep Deprivation risk-taking Risky Behavior Source Type: blogs