Cause for alarm: teen sleep deprivation

by Nicolette Miller

The new world of technology has created an unprecedented academic and social demand, making quality sleep for teenager imperative. The phenomenon of sleep deprivation among high school students is a continuous cycle; late nights studying followed by early morning classes that limit students’ ability to acquire the rest they need, damage physical and mental health. With this cause for alarm, some local schools are starting later with the hope that students will simply get a little more sleep.. 

According to the Stanford school of medicine, 87% of teenagers average far less than the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Cognitive ability – encompassing memory, judgement, and conceptual retention – is among the leading functions impaired by a lack of sleep. Additionally, sleep deprivation serves as a leading cause of depression and anxiety among teenagers, heightening the likelihood of consequences like poor grades, unhealthy relationships, drowsy driving, and even suicide (News Center). Physically, a lack of sleep has proven to lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity later in life. The degree of sleep deprivation that high schoolers experience reveals how unrealistic it is for them to reach their full potential in their academic success, let alone their success in extracurricular activities and personal relationships.

Digital distractions, social pressures, and the basic biology has essentially rewired teens as night owls. ”Sleepmore in Seattle,” a study published in Science Advances found that delaying high school start times in Seattle led to an average of 34 minutes more sleep, a 4.5% increase in grades, and improved attendance.

The circadian rhythm, a 24-hour cycle tied to the body’s internal clock, experiences a shift during teenage years. The rise in melatonin production that triggers the onset of sleep shifts from 8-9 p.m. to 10-11 p.m. throughout puberty, delaying the time in which the body gets tired. Additionally, most teenagers rack up a total of three-four hours of screen time each night, often from participating in social interactions or social media. The blue light emitted from technological devices such as smartphones, laptops, and television reduces the body’s production of melatonin – the vital sleep hormone that’s already being suppressed by puberty.

With this understanding of the ways that sleep deprivation is a vital issue, the solutions seem to be rooted in a “cultural shift” that includes cutting back on pressure, establishing screen time limits, and later start times for high school. 

This fall, the Salt Lake City School District will implement a plan that has been in the works for over a year – one that will allow their students to hit snooze a few extra times by pushing start times back by an hour, from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m.

It has received support from parents who find it difficult to get their teens out of bed in the morning, teens who have trouble focusing during their first class, and even teachers who witness the unproductivity of sleepy students. 

This later start time doesn’t come without objection, though, as many families worry that a later start time will conflict with parents’ work schedules, extracurricular activities, and unsafe waiting periods for elementary students who rely on their high school sibling to pick them up.

Still sleep deprivation among teens is an issue that must be addressed for the well-being of students’ physical and mental health. Due to biological changes, social pressures, and increasing technological distractions, early start times set teenagers up for failure, while the opportunity to sleep in a little longer accommodates the rest their bodies need in the way their bodies need it.

With appropriate sleep, proper brain function improves, giving teenagers the ability to reach their potential in every area of life without the hindrance of slow brains, tired bodies, and heavy eyes.