Understanding Sleep Deprivation, Especially Among High Schoolers
Sleep is an Integral Part of Life
Sleep is a necessary part of life and is vital for your health. We spend a significant part of our life, one-third of it, sleeping. It is integral to recharging your mind and body on a nightly basis.1
It also helps remove toxins from your brain and facilitates learning and memory.2 It also helps with concentration and responsiveness. Sleep affects almost every function and part of your body, including your brain, gut, heart, metabolism, immunity, hormones, and mental health. Sleep is especially important for children and teens, as it helps with their growth and development.3
The recommended amount to sleep each night is at least 7 hours for adults, 8-10 hours for teens, and 9-12 hours for school age children.4
Sleep Deprivation Across Demographics
According to statistics from the CDC, many people from different age groups struggle with sleep deprivation in the U.S. Sleep deprivation, or short sleep duration, refers to not getting the recommended hours of sleep based on one’s age. It also refers to low quality sleep.5 The CDC reports that 1 out of 3 adults suffer from short sleep duration. High schoolers tend to have the highest rates of short sleep duration, which is around 78%. Among the different demographics of high schoolers, it does not vary much but tends to be higher among females, Asians, and Blacks.6
1 in 3 Adults Americans Receive Inadequate Sleep
Even worse, 4 in 5 High Schoolers Receive Inadequate Sleep
Sleep Deprivation is Linked to Negative Health Outcomes
Given that sleep is vital to good health, sleep deprivation could lead to many negative outcomes. As mentioned, sleep supports learning and memory, so not getting enough sleep could hinder learning and academic performance. However, a good proportion of Americans do not seem to be as aware about these effects.
Only 35% of adults believe adequate sleep makes you more effective.7
Only 54% of parents think sleep impacts school performance.8
However,
Short sleep duration could lower one’s ability to learn by 40%.9
Source: The Noun Project
Sleep deprivation can also lead to drowsy driving, or driving while sleeping, which increases the risk for car crashes. Teens that are sleep deprived are especially at risk of crashes from drowsy driving and injuries related to sports and occupation.10
Drowsy driving has led to almost 100,000 car crashes in 2017.11
Source: The Noun Project
Additionally, inadequate sleep has been linked to a higher risk of negative health outcomes.12 As seen in the graphs below, short sleep duration is positively correlated with depression, obesity, and diabetes. Additionally, as seen in the maps below, the South and East in the U.S tend to have high higher rates of sleep deprivation and higher rates of obesity and diabetes.
Given the health risks associated with sleep deprivation, it is important to take steps to improve one's sleeping.
Next Steps for Better Sleep
For tips to improve sleep and more information, visit:
Sources
1. Pacheco, Danielle. “Physical Health and Sleep: How Are They Connected?” Sleep Foundation, April 14, 2022. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health.;
“Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep.” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed February 28, 2023. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-understanding-sleep#:~:text=Sleep%20is%20important%20to%20a,up%20while%20you%20are%20awake.
2. “Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep.” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
3. “Why Is Sleep Important?” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed February 28, 2023. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/why-sleep-important#:~:text=During%20sleep%2C%20your%20body%20is,long%2Dterm)%20health%20problems.
4. “Sleep and Sleep Disorders.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 7, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/index.html.
5. “What Are Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency?” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed February 28, 2023. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation.
6. “Sleep and Sleep Disorders.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
7. “Sleep by the Numbers.” National Sleep Foundation, December 22, 2022. https://www.thensf.org/sleep-facts-and-statistics/.
8. Ibid.
9. “Memory & Sleep: How Deprivation Affects the Brain.” Sleep Foundation, February 8, 2023. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/memory-and-sleep.
10. “Sleep and Sleep Disorders.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
11. Ibid.
12. “Sleep and Sleep Disorders.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; “PLACES: Census Tract Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2022 Release.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, October 18, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/places/measure-definitions/index.html.
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