Research Paper

How prevalent is sleep deprivation and how does it impact the physical and mental health of
adolescents?
Sleep deprivation (SD) means lack of sleep or not getting enough quality sleep.
Sleep is rejuvenating it relaxes the brain and helps an individual to function well. But when sleep is
deprived it can impact our physical and mental wellbeing especially in teens and young adults. Sleep
deprivation can occur from biological and physiological agents. Some hormones are associated with an
adolescent sleep pattern such as melatonin, Leptin and Ghrelin as reported by the National Institute of
Health (Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency). Melatonin is a natural hormone produced by the brain to
help control sleep. Melatonin release is delayed on adolescents; it keeps them awake at night and
sleepier in the morning. Leptin is a natural hormone produced by the body to reduce hunger. So, when
teens are awake at night their Leptin decreases while the Ghrelin increases making them hungry for
fatty and sugary foods. Cheng & Anderson through a short video illustrated how SD can be determined
through poor hand-eye coordination; poor skin texture/less elasticity due to high cortisol level and
reduced immune system which increases susceptibility to infection.
According to Kathleen Stassen Berger professor and author of Invitation to the

Life span states that adolescents are the most impacted with SD because their brain is not fully
developed, “their prefrontal cortex is limited in connections and engagement” (313). She further stated
that adolescent’s sleep disturbance may be as a result of their circadian rhythm which regulates their
sleep-wake cycles (314). This change may contribute to adolescents’ health problems such as anxiety,
depression, irritability, obesity, diabetes, and lack of motivation, poor school performance and
substance use (Annalijn Conklin, et al. 2). Studies have shown that total sleep loss or sleep debt affects
physical and mental well-being. For instance loosing 2 hours of sleep each night will result in a sleep
debt of 14 hours after a week (Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency) which can be overwhelming for the
brain to coordinate. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 8-10 hours of sleep for teens and
adolescents to function well.
Yu Lei, et al. in a neuro-imaging study showed that “sleep deprivation could lead
to reduced metabolic activity within a network of brain regions important for information processing
and executive control” (1). Good sleep supports healthy growth and development. It helps the brain to
process and retain information. A cross-sectional study by Wang Li, et al. shows that poor sleep is linked
to memory impairment, poor cognitive capability and depressive symptoms in adolescents (2) among
others
The purpose of this paper is to show how the prevalence of sleep deprivation
affects the mental and physical health of adolescents. A good night sleep helps individuals to function
well and accomplish their daily activities thus improving the physical and mental health.
An adolescent who did not get enough sleep that is sleeps less than recommended hours or is sleep
deprived is prone to next day grouchiness, depression, anxiety, and tiredness (Sleep Deprivation and
Deficiency). According to Christian Ledwin, Bean sleep disturbances are linked to both anxiety and
depression (1). Therefore, to improve mental health adolescents are encouraged to sleep well
throughout the night. In a sleep study conducted on middle and high school students 66 percent of
middle school and 74 percent of high school students report not getting enough (Sleep Deprivation in
Adolescents 1) due to social media, watching television, texting, playing video games or doing school
work. In another study from Eric Chudler of University of Washington, 68.9% reported insufficient sleep,
23.5% reported borderline sleep and only 7.6% reported optimal sleep respectively (see fig. 4). To make
up for lost sleep most adolescents over slept on the weekend which does more harm than good to the
body because it disrupts the total sleep pattern skyrocketing the hormonal effects.
Based on personal experience, I saw all these habits unfold with my daughter.
My daughter Lisa is a night owl her sleep pattern were distorted she can stay awake all night and sleep
all day if let be. This habit started when she was in high school she went to bed late on school nights and
had to wake up early to catch the school bus at 6:30 am. Most days to wake her up seemed an
impossible task. Previous researchers had proposed that school start should be from 8:30 am or later to
enable teens adjust to their circadian rhythm (Berger 315). Each time she was late for school I will get a
report that she had a bad day, this is the repercussion of not getting enough sleep she was irritable,
anxious, not motivated, lack concentration as evidenced in her academic report. I thought she was going
to drop out of school because she got overwhelmed with school work. The National Institute of Health
proposed that sleep deprivation in adolescents may result in impulsiveness, mood swings, lack of
motivation and poor school performance (Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency).
Though, some studies believe that depressive symptoms might cause SD, Bean
argued that there is no correlation rather SD causes anxiety and depression, and increases the risk for
developing subsequent anxiety or depression later in life (2).
Several studies conducted claimed that the prevalence of sleep deprivation in

adolescents can have a significant impact on their mental and physical wellbeing. When adolescents are
sleep deprived they engage in risky behaviors that may be detrimental to their health and life such as
having unprotected sex or rape, drinking under the influence of alcohol or drug causing fatal accidents
or death and being suicidal. According to Conklin et al. sleep loss is more common to cause depression
in young females than males (3) because females spent hours chatting on the phone and using other
social media to connect with friends or studying (Berger 347). Insufficient sleep decreases the level of
Leptin thus increasing hunger and night time craving for sweets and snacks as Ghrelin level increases
(Berger 318). Snacking late at night while watching television, studying or redundant in bed can lead to
obesity and diabetes, heart failure and liver diseases.
Good quality sleep may facilitate good school performance in adolescents and may enable them avoid
problems such as anxiety, depression, obesity, alcohol and substance abuse.
Many studies have been conducted on the effects of sleep deprivation on

adolescents but not many on the resolution to improve sleep on adolescents. Although, some
researchers advocated for the delay of school start to 8:30 or 9:30 am to increase critical thinking,
improve cognitive control and knowledge retention during school time (Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents
2). Some argued that it is the responsibility of the parent and adolescent to make sure they get enough
sleep as recommended. Some health agencies, suggests that maintaining consistent sleep and getting
daily exercise can improve sleep, and parents should prevent the use of electronic devices or remove
electronic devices from the adolescent room to ensure they have quality sleep (Sleep Deprivation and
Deficiency) because the blue light from the computer, television and phone interferes with sleep
hormones thus, reducing one’s ability to fall asleep.
On a personal interview with Lyn Johnson a local Pharmacist, she stated that
while filling prescriptions she came across many antidepressants medication prescribed for adolescents
and young adult. She sometimes argued with the physicians for prescribing such. She advised her
patients to try natural remedies and maintain a good sleep habits before taking medication or over-the-
counter pills.
Society always blamed parents for their children’s negative behaviors, as a parent you are
burnout with work and raising children, and sleeps less, you can barely function depression is more
prevalent in adulthood and can lead to other health issues and family dysfunction. Can you believe I
called the cops on my child because she became a truant and the school put all the blame on me I took
all the measures out there from the school and healthcare providers to no avail? I agreed with the
studies that said not to blame the adolescents on their choices rather to blame their brains (Berger 316).
I am very proud of Lisa, she graduated with honors and is doing great in college, her sleep circadian has
tremendously changed. Her brain if scanned will show the prefrontal cortex connecting and engaging.
This is a very challenging phase in an adolescent life, as parent/s we need to support, encourage and
love them no matter what believing this is a phase that will come to pass, and by being supportive we
are helping them live a quality life free from mental and physical harm.
Works Cited
Bean, Christian Ledwin. “Naturalistic Partial Sleep Deprivation Leads to Greater Next-
Day Anxiety: The Moderating Role of Baseline Anxiety and Depression.” Kent State University 2020.
Accessed 3 March 2021
Berger, Kathleen Stassen. “Invitation to the Life span.” 4 th ed. Worth Publishers. pp. 313+
Cheng, Cheng. Anderson, David. “How to tell if you’re Sleep Deprived”

6 Nov. 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld9RlIVN57M Accessed 22 April 2021
Conklin, Annalijn. Yao, Christopher. Richardson, Christopher. “Chronic Sleep

Deprivation and Gender-Specific Risk of Depression in Adolescents: A prospective Population-Based
Study.” BMC Public Health. Vol. 18:724, 2018. Pp. 2-3 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5656-
6 Accessed 10 March 2021
Fig. 1. Gopisetty, Divya. Sleep-Deprived Teens – A Neglected Diabetes Landmine.1

MAY 2019. https://diatribe.org/sleep-deprived-teens-neglected-diabetes-landmine Accessed 6 April
2021.
Fig. 2. Paritika, Effects of Sleep Deprivation. 9 Sept. 2019.

https://littleletterslinked.com/4-disastrous-effects-of-sleep-deprivation-on-teens/
Fig. 3. Distribution of Nocturnal Sleep Duration in Adolescents. Sing Health Medical

News. 1 March 2018. https://www.singhealth.com.sg/news/medical-news/sleep-in-adolescence
Fig. 4. Chudler, Eric H. Most US Teens are Sleep Deprived. U of W. 15 February 2010
https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/susa.html Accessed 8 April 2021.
Johnson, Lyn. Personal Interview on Sleep Deprivation. 12 March 2021.
Lei, Yu. Shao, Yongcong. Wang, Lubin. Zhai, Tianye. Zou, Feng. Ye, Enmao. “Large-
Scale Brain Network Coupling Predicts Total Sleep Deprivation Effects on Cognitive Capacity.” PLoS ONE.
Vol.10, issue 9, July 2015, p. 1
http://dx.doi.org.sinclair.ohionet.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0133959
Accessed 10 March 2021
“Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency”

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/sleep-deprivation-and-deficiency Accessed 20 March 2021
"Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection,

Gale, 2019. Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints
link.gale.com/apps/doc/OESJAI523062702/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=34a4ed16. Accessed 3
March 2021
Wang, Li. Yin, Jianjun. Cai, Xianfeng. Cheng, Xin, & Wang, Yongxiang. “Association
Between Sleep Duration and Quality and Depressive Symptoms among University Students: A Cross-
Sectional Study”. PLoS ONE, vol. 15, issue 9, September 2020, p. 2
https://www.dx.doi.org.sinclair.ohionet.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238811 Accessed 10 March 2021

Research Paper

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Research Paper

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Research Paper

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

How prevalent is sleep deprivation and how does it impact the physical and mental health of

According to Kathleen Stassen Berger professor and author of Invitation to the

Several studies conducted claimed that the prevalence of sleep deprivation in

Many studies have been conducted on the effects of sleep deprivation on

Cheng, Cheng. Anderson, David. “How to tell if you’re Sleep Deprived”

Conklin, Annalijn. Yao, Christopher. Richardson, Christopher. “Chronic Sleep

Fig. 1. Gopisetty, Divya. Sleep-Deprived Teens – A Neglected Diabetes Landmine.1

Fig. 2. Paritika, Effects of Sleep Deprivation. 9 Sept. 2019.

Fig. 3. Distribution of Nocturnal Sleep Duration in Adolescents. Sing Health Medical

Johnson, Lyn. Personal Interview on Sleep Deprivation. 12 March 2021.

“Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency”

"Sleep Deprivation in Adolescents." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection,

You might also like