Losing Focus

October 15, 2009  
Filed under Opinion

Sleep is still a problem. Despite research on sleep deprivation has been around for quite some time, but it seems that teens are getting less sleep than ever. Tired students are still getting into accidents, getting bad grades and dropping out sooner.

A study by researchers at the University of Holy Cross and Brown University showed that students with averages of “C” or below got a half hour less sleep on average. They also went to bed 45 minutes later.

Studies show that teenagers need more sleep than people at any other stage of their life. Teens require 9.2 hours a night for healthy body function and school performance. What they get in high school is closer to 7.3 hours.

Teens that do get sleep are less likely to get in auto accidents. They are also less likely to suffer from all kinds of mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Well-rested teens also have a happier disposition and a more positive outlook on life.

When surveyed, many teens list school as the main reason they don’t get enough sleep. 66% surveyed said that school was the cause for their lack of sleep. Work came in second, with 23% of teens citing it as the reason they don’t get enough sleep. Teens have to stay up late to finish schoolwork and then have to get up early in the morning. According to the survey, 22% of teens get less than 6 hours of sleep at least one night a week because of homework.

Allowing high school students more time to sleep may help them in all aspects in life. In August, the University of Minnesota studied a school district that recently moved their start time back from 7:15 to 8:40. They found that the students were getting more sleep, happier, and had slightly higher grades than their peers in other school districts.

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Schuyler Foulke

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