A comparison of the number of hours of sleep in high school students who took advanced placement and/or college courses and those who did not

J Sch Nurs. 2008 Dec;24(6):417-24. doi: 10.1177/1059840508326747.

Abstract

This study investigated the association between sleep deprivation and enrollment in Advanced Placement (AP) and/or college courses among high school students. Approximately 4,000 surveys were distributed, and 2,197 completed surveys were returned from students in Grades 9 to 12 at 15 high schools in Iowa. Findings indicated the majority of high school students were sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation was significantly associated with enrollment in AP/college courses. Results indicated that enrollment in AP/college courses had a greater impact on younger students than older students. Compared with non-AP/college course takers, AP/college course takers slept approximately 20 minutes less per night. Specifically, 9th- and 10th-grade AP/college course takers slept approximately 1 hour less and 40 minutes less, respectively. In addition, students enrolled in two or more AP/college classes received 1 hour less and 30 minutes less among 10th and 11th graders, respectively. These results provide useful information on adolescent sleep patterns for school nurses.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Educational Status*
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Iowa / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Regression Analysis
  • School Nursing
  • Sleep Deprivation / epidemiology*
  • Sleep Deprivation / prevention & control
  • Students / psychology*