Sleep determines a person’s health outcome. An average person is supposed to sleep for at least eight hours. However, most American teenagers sleep for less than eight hours, and others have sleeping difficulties (Jakobsson et al., 2019). Adolescents are under the pressure of balancing their social and academic lives. Most students sleep during the weekends to compensate for the inadequate sleep and irregular sleep patterns during weekdays (Gershon et al., 2019). Some adolescents may sleep more than the recommended hours. Others spend too much time on social media to interact with their friends. These strategies may affect the adolescents’ health outcomes. Some students feel tired, irritable, depressed, and develop the urge to drink caffeinated drinks (Santrick, 2018). Failure to use evidence-based interventions results in low academic performance and adverse health outcomes.
Overall Topic Choice
This review focuses on the impact of developing a regular sleep routine on adolescents’ life outcomes. It is a vital topic since few studies have highlighted how irregular sleep rhythms affect students’ health. Besides, there is limited research on evidence-based sleep intervention programs. The reason for choosing this topic is due to the recent low academic scores linked to inadequate sleep; it would be imperative to find solutions that parents and teachers can introduce to address this issue.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Article 1
Gershon et al. (2019) investigated the impact of sleep duration and impulsivity on adolescents with bipolar disorders. The study is based on the theory that sleep and impulsivity affect young people’s moods. The authors wanted to determine how these factors contribute to bipolar disorder in adolescents (Gershon et al., 2019). The theory is based on the notion that sleep disturbances worsen adults’ health outcomes. Adolescents are likely to have irregular sleep patterns due to high caffeine consumption and social activities like texting (Santrick, 2018). The researchers wanted to study the impact of sleep on adolescents with bipolar disorders since no research has addressed this topic.
Consequently, the authors developed three hypotheses to explain the theory. They hypothesized that adolescents with bipolar disorders and healthy youths are likely to have delayed bedtimes and rise times: longer sleep duration on weekends than weekdays: a shift in sleep patterns between school days and weekends result in impulsivity: and adolescents with bipolar disorders will be the most affected (Gershon et al., 2019). Researchers hoped that youth with bipolar disorder would be sensitive to sleep disturbances.
The sample used and research process was inadequate. Only 59 students participated in the study, and the researchers used self-reported questionnaires, which are subject to memory bias(Gershon et al., 2019). The authors provided adequate information about the sample, such as the diagnostic criteria and measurement tools. However, the data collection process could not identify the unique impact of sleep disturbances.
Nonetheless, the results supported the hypothesis. The authors discovered that adolescents with bipolar disorders are likely to report more sleep disturbances than average students (Gershon et al., 2019). They also noted that young adults sleep more during weekends to compensate for inadequate sleep during school days. The authors concluded irregular sleep rhythms affected impulse control among youth with bipolar disorders. This study’s findings would have improved if the authors used a qualitative and quantitative approach and a large sample size.
Article 2
Paavonen et al.(2016) introduce an intervention that would improve adolescents’ sleep duration and patterns. The authors noted that young people have irregular bedtimes, and hence, they delivered semi-structured sleep interventions to prolong sleep duration and stabilize sleep-wake rhythms (Paavonen et al., 2016). Their observation is based on the theory that cognitive-behavioral therapy, sleep hygiene, and early morning exercise can address sleep disturbances. The authors developed this theory after noting how past research supported the benefits of intervention programs. They wanted to study this topic since current intervention protocols are lengthy and young people find them unattractive.
The authors developed a hypothesis to understand the impact of intervention programs. They predicted that sleep-wake rhythms determine the intervention protocol, and increasing young people’s sleep duration would enhance their well-being and minimize feelings of tiredness (Paavonen et al., 2016). The study had an adequate sample size and research process. There were 537 young people aged between 16 and years (Paavonen et al., 2016). Besides, the authors used a systematic sampling method and followed the ethical obligations. The research process involved subjective and objective measurement tools—self-reports and actiwatches—that informed students’ sleeping patterns.
Furthermore, the results supported the hypothesis. The authors discovered that irregular sleep patterns were common among young people and linked to daylight tiredness (Paavonen et al., 2016). Studies have shown that sleep disturbances affect young people’s physical and mental health (Santrick, 2018). The study findings demonstrated that sleep intervention programs reduce insomnia and its symptoms, such as perceived stress and anxiety. Also, the intervention increased the sleep duration and improved sleep quality. The authors concluded that behavioral programs could reduce sleep irregularity and improve adolescents’ health outcomes. However, a few modifications would have made the findings highly informative. For example, the authors should have included the parents in the study to assist students with sleeping difficulties.
Article 3
Jakobsson et al. (2019) investigated the causes of sleeping problems in adolescents. The researchers wanted to determine whether self-perception, stress in the learning environment, and technology use influence sleep disturbances (Jakobsson et al., 2019). They based on this study on the theory that states most adolescents have sleeping problems. This theory originates from the idea that adolescents encounter emotional and physiological changes that affected their perceptions. Peer pressure influences young people to want to be famous and successful, and technology use has worsened the way adolescents interact.
As a result, the authors developed a hypothesis to investigate how these factors influence sleep patterns. They predicted that adolescents have sleeping problems originating from school stress, technology, and self-perception (Jakobsson et al., 2019). One of the study’s strengths was the use of a large sample size. The authors collected data from 934 students aged between 15 and 16 years (Jakobsson et al., 2019). Additionally, the research process covered vital elements such as sleep duration, technological devices, and self-perception. Appropriate statistical tools, such as the chi-square, established the relationship between independent and dependent variables (Jakobsson et al., 2019). The only problem was the overreliance on self-reported data, which may have provided incorrect information about the sleep duration.
The findings supported the hypothesis. According to the authors, most adolescents sleep less than eight hours (Jakobsson et al., 2019). Girls had more sleeping difficulties than boys. Based on the logistic regression analysis, technology use, self-perception, and school stress affected young people’s sleep quality and patterns (Jakobsson et al., 2019). These findings supported the authors’ predictions. As a result, they concluded that school stress contributed to short sleep duration during weekdays, and girls had poor sleep quality to low self-perception and high technology use (Jakobsson et al., 2019). The study would have insightful findings if the authors had measurement the sleep patterns using objective tools like smartwatches.
Relate the Articles
The three studies ascertain that adolescents have sleeping difficulties. Besides, the authors have demonstrated the causes and impact of irregular sleep patterns. Jakobsson et al. (2019) and Paavonen et al. (2016) claim that sleep disturbances occur due to school stress, physiological changes, technology and caffeine overuse, and lack of parental involvement. The three studies claim that lack of adequate sleep affects adolescents’ health outcomes. Gershon et al. (2019) stated that sleep disturbances might result in suicidality among adolescents with bipolar disorders. Low sleep quality is also linked to reduced attention span ( Santrick, 2018 ). These studies want to highlight the dangers of sleeping difficulties and provide solutions that can be integrated into school and primary care settings to improve young people’s health outcomes, academic success, and quality of life.
Besides, the studies’ theories and hypotheses relate. The three articles claimed that most young people have sleeping difficulties and the findings proved the assertion was correct. However, unlike Gershon et al. (2019) and Jakobsson et al. (2019), Paavonen et al. (2016) hypothesized that intervention programs could enhance young people’s sleep quality and duration. Also, Jakobsson et al. (2019) had an in-depth theory about the factors that influence sleep disturbances. The authors claimed that girls are more likely to be affected than boys and stated that technology use, social activities, and body image are the predictive factors for irregular sleep rhythms.
The three articles used distinct samples and research processes. Although the participants were adolescents, the age bracket and sample sizes were different. Gershon et al. (2019) had 59 participants aged 13 to 19 years—the tiniest sample size, Jakobsson et al. (2019) had the largest sample size comprising of adolescents aged between 15 and 16 years, and Paavonen et al. (2016) recruited 537 students aged 16 to 18 years. Besides, each study had a different research process. Paavonen et al. (2016) had the most detailed research process; there was a three-step protocol to determine the effectiveness of the intervention program. Also, the participants provided subjective and objective data that chi-square tests, Cohen’s d , and t-tests analyzed (Paavonen et al., 2016). Converely, Jakobsson et al. (2019) and Gershon et al. (2019) used self-reported data subject to memory bias. Paavonen et al. (2016) had the best approach since the research had objective measurement tools.
The three articles had similar results. According to the authors, the school schedules, social activities, and additional responsibilities affect adolescents’ sleep quality. They discovered that most students tend to sleep more during the weekends. Students are unable to establish a balance between domestic duties and school assignments. Besides, their parents, teachers, and peers pressure them to be successful. As a result, they developed psychological distress that impairs sleep quality and patterns. Jakobsson et al. (2019) stated that lack of adequate sleep impairs young people’s cognitive ability. Gershon et al. (2019) supported this finding by demonstrating sleep disturbances make it difficult for adolescents with bipolar disorders to control their impulses. Paavonen et al. (2016) noted that tiredness was a prevalent symptom of sleeping difficulty.
The overall conclusion is that adolescents rarely find time to sleep. They are preoccupied with their studies and technological devices, making it impossible for them to sleep. The school curriculum demands students to excel in different subjects without allocating them enough time to study. As a result, students use their smartphones and computers to research. At times, social media networks interfere with their attention and focus; some end up texting with their friends. Other students drink caffeinated drinks to stay up late and study. If parents are not involved in regulating the sleep patterns, adolescents’ health outcomes will worsen.
Reflection
Based on these studies’ findings, there are little efforts to address sleep disturbances and insomnia among adolescents. It was surprising to discover few articles have suggested the relevant sleep intervention programs. My conclusion is that adolescents lack guidance about the appropriate sleep-wake patterns. They do not understand how lack of sleep affects their attention and concentration span. Besides, the pressure to be successful and technology use and increased privacy has created distance between adolescents and their parents. As a result, adolescents seek approval from strangers, making them spend a significant amount of time on social media.
An average person should read these articles to understand how irregular sleep rhythms affect young people’s quality of life. Most parents and teachers expect students to be successful without encouraging and guiding them to have regular sleep patterns. When their health deteriorates due to inadequate sleep, adolescents are unlikely to have successful academic and social lives. Reading these articles will guide parents on monitoring their children’s technology use, improving their self-esteem, and regulating their sleep-wake patterns.
Future studies should focus on the effectiveness of intervention programs. Researchers should determine cost-effective sleep protocols needed in schools and homes to enhance adolescents’ sleep quality and quantity. Also, future research should study how parental involvement determines the intervention program and sleep-wake patterns. Another area to consider is the behavioral intervention protocols that may be effective for different genders. If I were to further this research, I would investigate the current level of parental involvement strategies and their effect on young people’s sleep quality and quantity.
Formal Conclusion
Overall, sleep disturbances and insomnia are prevalent among adolescents. They result in conditions like depression, negative self-perception, and unstable mood. If not addressed, sleep deprivation can result in social problems. Students may be unable to interact with their peers and engage in physical activities. Some adolescents may sleep too much during the weekends. As a result, they may gain weight or develop heart-related conditions due to inactivity. Parents should guide their children’s sleep-wake patterns. For example, they can deny access to smartphones and computers during sleeping time. This approach will enable adolescents to have an adequate sleep. Another approach is the introduction of cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based interventions in schools. Teachers need to guide young people on how to process and calm their thoughts to avoid sleeping difficulties. Adolescents are future parents, and hence, they should learn the significance of eight-hour night sleep to impact the knowledge on the upcoming generation.
References
Gershon, A., Johnson, S. L., Thomas, L., & Singh, M. K. (2019). Double trouble: Weekend sleep changes are associated with increased impulsivity among adolescents with bipolar I disorder. Bipolar Disorders , 21 (2), 132-141. https://doi.org/10.1111/bdi.12658
Jakobsson, M., Josefsson, K., Jutengren, G., Sandsjö, L., & Högberg, K. (2019). Sleep duration and sleeping difficulties among adolescents: Exploring associations with school stress, self‐perception, and technology use. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences , 33 (1), 197-206. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12621
Paavonen, E. J., Huurre, T., Tilli, M., Kiviruusu, O., & Partonen, T. (2016). Brief behavioral sleep intervention for adolescents: An effectiveness study. Behavioral Sleep Medicine , 14 (4), 351-366. https://doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2015.1007993
Santrick, J. (2018). Adolescence psychology (17th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
