Teens Are Sleeping Less Than Ever, Study Finds

A recent study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health reveals that today’s teenagers are getting less sleep than any generation before them.

The research, published in Pediatrics, indicates a steady decline in sleep duration across all age groups. Alarmingly, only 22% of older adolescents reported getting at least seven hours of sleep each night, marking a drop to record-low levels.

Rachel Widome, the study’s lead author, pointed out that some sleep-related challenges have persisted over the years. These include the pressures of homework, extracurricular activities, and the social need to stay awake with friends. But, she also noted that newer issues have emerged in recent times. The prevalence of screens, social media, and collective stress from events like the pandemic and social unrest have complicated matters.

The study also highlighted widening gaps in sleep quality, particularly affecting Black and Latino teens and those whose parents have lower education levels. Notably, older adolescents were found to be the most impacted; sleep duration and feelings of restfulness declined significantly from early to late teenage years.

To gather their data, researchers analyzed responses from the Monitoring the Future survey, which has tracked over 400,000 U.S. students from grades eight, ten, and twelve from 1991 to 2023. The students answered questions about how often they slept a minimum of seven hours and whether they felt rested.

Lack of sleep can lead to daily fatigue and impaired functioning. It’s also linked to more serious long-term issues, such as mental health challenges, academic difficulties, and chronic illnesses in later life.

While increased screen time seems like an obvious factor, deeper issues such as feelings of social isolation and burnout may actually be at play. Research from the Aim Ideas Lab found that about two-thirds of California teens reported feelings of burnout and anxiety. Around a quarter felt they had enough time for basic necessities like sleep and eating only a couple of days a week.

Jolie Delja, executive director of Aim Youth Mental Health, noted that students are directly tying their stress to relentless academic pressures. They’re calling for more time to decompress and learn coping strategies, like mindfulness. Schools don’t necessarily need to create completely new solutions; more time and space for relaxation could make a difference.

Studies have shown that teens who go to bed earlier and get more sleep tend to perform better cognitively compared to their peers. It’s noteworthy that researchers assert there isn’t a single, nationwide solution. Instead, they suggest broader, structural changes that could benefit many adolescents. One key recommendation is to delay high school start times to 8:30 AM or later, aligning better with adolescent sleeping patterns.

“A nation of sleep-deprived adolescents is not inevitable,” Widome remarked. “We ought to foster a culture that values sleep and commit to policies and interventions that promote healthy sleeping habits for all.”