Adolescent sleep, risk behaviors, and depressive symptoms: are they linked?

Am J Health Behav. 2010 Mar-Apr;34(2):237-48. doi: 10.5993/ajhb.34.2.11.

Abstract

Objective: To explore how weekday and weekend sleep patterns are related to adolescent substance use, depressive symptoms, and school truancy.

Methods: Selfreport surveys of 242 youth (93.4% white, mean age 16.4 years).

Results: Longer weekday sleep duration was inversely associated with depressive symptoms, past month alcohol use, and drunkenness. Later weekend bedtime and wake-times, compared to those of weekdays, were associated with increased substance use and truancy.

Conclusions: Weekday sleep duration appears to be protective for substance use, depression and school truancy for teenagers. However, inconsistent sleep patterns between weekdays and weekends were associated with a range of markers for adolescent risk.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Absenteeism
  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior*
  • Child
  • Depression / complications
  • Depression / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Risk-Taking*
  • Sex Factors
  • Sleep*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / complications
  • Time Factors