German schoolchildren's sleep crisis deepens amid rising exhaustion and media use

A recent survey reveals that nearly half of German pupils in secondary school are struggling with sleep and exhaustion, signalling worsening mental health and potential impacts on learning amid increased media engagement.

A new survey in Germany suggests that tiredness and poor sleep are becoming routine for many schoolchildren, raising fresh concern about the impact on learning and mental health. According to DAK-Gesundheit’s annual prevention report, nearly half of pupils in years five to ten said they struggle with sleep, while more than two-thirds said they feel exhausted at least once a week.

The findings come from a large study carried out by the Institute for Therapy and Health Research, which questioned about 30,000 children and teenagers at 141 secondary schools in 15 German states during the 2025/2026 school year. The DAK said 49% of respondents reported reduced well-being, and only 57% said they looked positively towards their future. The insurer said the overall trend points in the wrong direction across the board.

The survey also indicates that sleep problems have worsened over time. DAK data show the share of pupils reporting sleep difficulties has risen from 36% in 2019/2020 to 46% in the most recent school year, while the proportion saying they felt exhausted rose from 52% three years ago to 69% now. Andreas Storm, the insurer’s chief executive, linked the results to Germany’s weak performance in international education comparisons, saying that children who are already tired or struggling with sleep are less likely to learn successfully.

Michael Hubmann, president of Germany’s paediatricians’ association, pointed to heavy media use as one possible factor. Speaking to the report, he said children and adolescents who stay on social media late into the evening, or watch emotionally charged videos driven by algorithms, may be kept from healthy sleep.