Teen Sleep Loss Rising: New Data Reveals Alarming Trends & Impact on Health

The spring time change is here, and with it, a familiar grogginess. But a new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that a deeper issue is at play when it comes to adolescent sleep: teens are getting less sleep than ever before, and it’s not simply a matter of screens keeping them up at night. The findings raise concerns about the impact on teenage brain development, mental health, and overall well-being.

Tanner Bommersbach, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, emphasizes the crucial role sleep plays in adolescent development. “Sleep is essential for emotional regulation in teenagers and important for their overall physical and mental health,” he says. The new research, analyzing data from nearly 121,000 high school students participating in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, reveals a concerning trend.

A Growing Sleep Deficit

The study found that roughly three out of four American adolescents reported insufficient sleep in 2023 – defined as less than eight hours per night. This represents an 8% increase since 2007. What’s particularly striking is the surge in teens getting incredibly little sleep – five hours or less – which jumped from 15.8% to 23.0% over the same period. This isn’t a uniform problem; the data indicates Black students have experienced a greater increase in sleep insufficiency compared to their white peers, though the overall trend is widespread across demographics.

Interestingly, the increase in insufficient sleep doesn’t seem to be linked to typical risk behaviors. “Regardless of mental health symptoms, substance use, how many hours a day they’re watching TV or they’re on social media, we saw widespread increases in insufficient sleep across the population,” Bommersbach explains. This challenges the common assumption that screen time is the primary culprit.

Challenging the Screen Time Narrative

In fact, the research revealed a counterintuitive finding: teens with very little screen time are actually showing a greater rise in insufficient sleep than those with heavy screen use. This suggests that other factors are at play. While the study doesn’t pinpoint the exact cause, researchers speculate that earlier school start times, increased academic and extracurricular demands, and a lack of consistent parental monitoring may be contributing to the problem.

Anita Shelgikar, a neurologist at the University of Michigan Medical School and president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, who was not involved in the study, calls the trend “an epidemic of adolescent sleep deprivation.”

What Can Be Done? Prioritizing Sleep Hygiene

Shelgikar offers several practical steps teens can take to improve their sleep. These include dimming lights and minimizing electronic device use before bed, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, and creating a sleep environment that is cool, dark, and quiet. She as well stresses the importance of bright light exposure first thing in the morning to help regulate the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, also known as the circadian rhythm.

Getting outdoor light in the morning is particularly beneficial, as it’s far brighter than indoor light. Shelgikar also encourages adults to model healthy sleep habits and educate teens about the importance of sleep for their overall health.

The Role of School Schedules

The conversation around adolescent sleep often circles back to school start times. Research has consistently shown that later school start times are associated with increased sleep duration and improved academic performance among teens.

The findings from Bommersbach and his colleagues underscore the need for a multi-faceted approach to address the growing problem of adolescent sleep deprivation. It’s not simply about limiting screen time; it’s about recognizing the complex interplay of factors that contribute to sleep loss and implementing strategies to prioritize sleep health.

Looking Ahead: Surveillance and Further Research

The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey will continue to monitor adolescent sleep patterns, providing valuable data to track trends and assess the effectiveness of interventions. Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying causes of the increasing sleep deficit and to develop targeted strategies to address the specific needs of different adolescent populations. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine continues to advocate for policies and practices that support healthy sleep habits for all ages, including advocating for year-round standard time, as the shift to daylight saving time can further disrupt sleep patterns, as highlighted by a study in JAMA. The AMA also supports ending daylight saving time, citing risks to public health and safety, as detailed in their position statement.

This research serves as a clear call to action for parents, educators, and policymakers to prioritize adolescent sleep health and create environments that support restorative rest.