Teen zombies walk among us and they can’t be cured! Problem behaviours related to sleep loss:
- More risk-taking.
- Less self-control (emotional volatility).
- Drop in school performance.
- Drop in school attendance.
- Neuron growth in the brain hampered – leads to decrease in memory (UBC 2010 study).
- Rise in incidence of depression.
- Weight gain.
- Skin problems.
- 7.6% of teens get the recommended 9 – 10 hours of sleep.
- 23.5% have 8 hours of sleep.
- 38.7% are seriously sleep deprived at 6 or fewer hours per night.
- Less than 8 hours is the average sleep on a school night.
Ref: http://www.cdc.gov
A good resource: Depression Hurts Symptom Checklist – The checklist helps a person learn about depression symptoms, rates the symptoms impact on life and provides a basis for discussion with a doctor.
How Much Shut-Eye?
The latest sleep research recommendations from a panel of experts give parents fresh ammunition for when kids blame them for strict bedtimes.
Guidelines for daily/nightly sleep duration:
- 4 – 12 mths = 12 – 16 hrs including naps
- 1 -2 yrs = 11 – 14 hrs including naps for 1 to 2 year olds
- 3 – 5 yrs = 10 – 13hrs including naps
- 6 – 12 yrs = 9 – 12hrs
- 13 – 18 yrs = 8 – 10hrs
Adequate sleep is linked with improved attention, behavior, learning, mental and physical health at every age.
Insufficient sleep increases risks for obesity, diabetes, accidents and in teens, self-harm including suicidal thoughts and attempts. American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Zombies photo by Mark Lobo Photography, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0