Teenage Sleep Deprivation

By: Rose Wong

Every night after just getting home from practice or work, teens are faced with a plethora of responsibilities and only so much time to do them. This causes them to stay up into ungodly hours of the night, exhausted the next morning. A national study by the CDC proved that over 72 percent of high school students are severely sleep deprived, leaving them much more susceptible to illnesses and high stress levels. It is a fact that the common teenage population simply doesn't have enough time to sleep. 

Palmetto High School sophomore Lexi Middleton explains that teens “...are given a lot of responsibilities on top of school, and since school takes up so much time of the day, they are required to stay up to complete them.” These years in an adolescent’s life are packed full of tasks and responsibilities. Maya Taylor, a Mauldin High School senior, talks about the demanding aspects of a teenager’s life: “They are busy during the day with school, work, homework, and personal life.” Taylor explains that this leaves them to “...use their night to enjoy time alone and do things they enjoy, rather than being stressed about their daily life.” Having no time to rest is not a sustainable lifestyle for anyone, especially teenagers while their brains are still maturing.

Judy Benner, a North Greenville University freshman, also spoke on the lack of sleep high schoolers get. Benner explained that, since going to college, her sleep has dramatically improved due to an improved schedule: “Since it’s the end of the semester and finals are coming up, I …come back to my room and …have slept wonderfully.” This proves the stress a high school schedule puts on its students. College classes are more complicated and intense than high school; however, they are much more flexible. College students hold responsibility for their education and academic achievements, allowing them to have more choice on their sleep schedule as well.

Dr. Scott Dobson is a pediatrician from Simpsonville, South Carolina. He commented on teenage circadian rhythms saying they make it “...more difficult [for teenagers] to fall asleep before eleven p.m.” Dobson explained, “With early school times and increased workload, we see increasing sleep deprivation. It build[s] over the course of the week, so by Thursday and Friday, they are even more tired.”

Teenagers juggle a lot of responsibility; however, they don’t always handle it in the best way. Caroline Gouch, a student at Christ Church Episcopl School, states, “[teens] don’t grasp the concept of time very well and don’t know how to manage their schedules with all the work they’re given.” Gouch commented on the common occurrence of waking up before everyone in their household, and going to sleep after them all. This is seen widely between many working teens or student athletes. Teens are out late into the night, leaving lots of school work to do later. Overall, teenagers are left with the least amount of time for the most important thing of all: rest.

So, what needs to change? How can this issue be resolved? Dr. Dobson recommends establishing a consistent sleep schedule first. This will prepare the brain for sleep at a scheduled, healthy time. It’s important to avoid technology and blue light emitting devices for about 30-60 minutes before sleep. Dobson also commented on caffeine consumption stating, “you can get a few hours of help from caffeine, but then the crash can be much stronger, especially if sleep deprived.” Dr. Dobson recommends avoiding high levels of caffeine in coffee, energy drinks, or teas after three or four p.m. This will help ensure an easy and restful night, allowing for much needed sleep. Overall, Dobson reminds students, “The brain is developing so much during the teen years. You’re going to perform so much better in the short and long term if you’re consistently giving your brain time to rest and recharge!”