Adolescents’ Suggestions on how to Support Their Sleep: A Focus Group Study

Abstract

Sleeping difficulties among adolescents constitute a pressing public health issue, and it is of the utmost importance that these are approached from a health-promotion perspective. This study explores adolescents’ suggestions on how their sleep could be supported. Data were collected via eight focus group interviews with 43 adolescents aged 15–16, in Sweden, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The results describe the adolescents’ suggestions on how their sleep could be supported in three themes: being supported by involved parents— routines, engagement, and warmth are vital; being supported to achieve knowledge on the “whys” and “hows” of sleep—increased knowledge gives the ability to make well-grounded sleep choices; and being guided into finding balance—balance in life is difficult to achieve and adolescents desire support. Parents, school nurses, health professionals, and anyone who has the opportunity to improve and promote sleep should consider adolescents’ suggestions.