Teenagers with sleep problems are more likely to abuse alcohol, use drugs or engage in risky sexual behavior in the future, according to a study published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
This could be because people who sleep well make better judgments about the situation and make better decisions, scientists speculate.
Researchers from Idaho State University in Pocatello (USA) analyzed data collected in a group of approx. American teenagers in the research entitled National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. In the years 6,5-1994, information on sleep, alcohol consumption and drug use was collected from them through questionnaires and interviews.
The researchers found that young people who admitted having problems sleeping (e.g. difficulty falling asleep) at least once a week were more likely to engage in risky behavior in the future, such as getting drunk, drunk driving, taking drugs or having sex in the future. state of intoxication with alcohol. Sleeping too little was associated with the risk of binge drinking and trouble interacting with others.
The stronger the sleep disturbance and the fewer hours young people slept during the night, the higher the probability that they would be risky in the future. For example, in adolescents who had difficulty falling asleep almost daily, it was 33 percent higher compared to peers without sleep problems.
We don’t usually think about the importance of sleep. But our research shows that it is a good indicator of serious problems in the future – commented to the BBC for the project leader Prof. Maria Wong.
According to the researchers, it could be very useful to educate young people about the importance of sleep in our lives and the potential consequences that sleep disorders can have on health, well-being and behavior.
It’s also important for parents to give more weight to their children’s sleep habits. Many parents do not check their teenagers’ sleep hours and allow them to make their own decisions about when to go to sleep – emphasized prof. Wong.
According to Dr. Neil Stanley, British sleep research specialist for the BBC, many young people, who do not even suffer from insomnia, sleep too little each night for their needs. The reason is the modern way of life. In his opinion, the latest study confirms previous observations that sleep deprivation can significantly impair our ability to rationally assess the situation. “And this is especially important for adolescents, who are more likely to take risks and experiment with alcohol and drugs,” concluded Dr. Stanley. (PAP)