Irregular Sleeping Patterns in Adolescents

Abstract

Sleep plays a critical role in sustaining health and well-being in teenagers and young adults, and this link is increasingly studied. Many young patients who visit doctors have problems or diseases that are related to sleep deprivation. Due to the accelerated brain development that occurs throughout adolescence, sleep may be especially crucial during this time. Pre-adolescents and teenagers have different average sleep durations, but for both age groups, 9 hours seems to be the ideal amount of sleep. However, evidence indicates that teenagers frequently do not get enough sleep, particularly during the week when school is in session. Sleep has a variety of purposes, such as fostering cognitive, physical, and immune development. Studies have also shown a link between insufficient sleep and adult cardiac disease. Teenagers and young adults are becoming more aware of its importance, especially in light of our culture's constant connectedness and media consumption. This chapter focuses on the irregular sleeping patterns among teenagers, the risks they promote and the different ways to cure such problems.