A comprehensive review suggests that adolescents who maintain consistent sleep and wake times may experience better mental health outcomes, highlighting the importance of stable routines amidst the challenges of teenage body clocks and school schedules.
A new review suggests that teenagers who keep more regular sleep and wake times may have better mental health, particularly when they avoid large swings between school-night and weekend routines. According to LBC, researchers at the University of Southampton examined evidence on sleep regularity in adolescents aged 12 to 18 and found that bigger shifts in bedtime and wake time were linked with higher levels of anxiety.
The analysis drew on 12 studies involving more than 235,000 people, along with six additional studies reviewed narratively. The wider research base supports that finding: studies published in PubMed, Nature and other journals have associated irregular sleep with more anxiety, depression and other internalising symptoms, while also linking steadier sleep patterns to better emotional regulation and behavioural health.
Researchers say the teenage years naturally bring a later body clock, which can make adolescents feel sleepy later at night. School start times, however, often force early rising, so many teenagers sleep longer at weekends to make up for lost rest during the week. That pattern may worsen sleep disruption, the review suggests, which is why the authors recommend keeping bedtime and wake time as consistent as possible across the week while still getting enough sleep overall.
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