Schools: The Real Reason for Teen Sleep Depravity
For decades, teenagers and early mornings have been at odds. Adolescents all across America seem to share the quality of morning sleepiness and a vampire like aversion to waking up when it is still dark outside, as can be seen in any high school. Public opinion has always been against the teen on this issue stating that they are just “lazy” or were up too late and that their inattentiveness is their fault! However, new studies have unearthed startling evidence against these views. According to Mary Carskadon (a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University and director of the Sleep research Laboratory at E.P. Bradley University Hospital in East Providence, Rhode Island) “in …show more content…
The National Sleep Foundation’s 2006 Sleep in America poll found that many adolescents exhibit symptoms of a depressive mood on a frequent basis, and that these teens are more likely to have sleep problems. The poll calculated depressive mood scores for each of the 1,602 poll respondents by calculating their responses to four mood states which were: do you feel unhappy or depressed, hopeless about the future, nervous or tense, and do you worry too much about things? The results showed that 46% had a low depressive mood score, 36% had a medium mood score, and 17% had a high depressive mood score. Most notably however, was the fact that 73% of the kids who reported feeling depressed also reported not getting enough sleep at night and being very tired during the day [Teens and Sleep]. This survey shows a direct link between sleep deprivation and depression in teens. Lack of sleep affects mood and a depressed mood can lead to worrying and a lack of sleep. To combat this cycle there is only one thing that can be done. Teens need to get more sleep. All of these reasons for more sleep amount to teens being better prepared to learn and also happier and healthier, so why don’t schools start at the optimal times for happier, healthier, alert …show more content…
Due to their natural sleep patterns and school which conflicts them, teenagers are at more risk for health issues, depression, and are nowhere near at their academic best to deal with school or activities in general. Schools start too early because it saves costs on transportation and allows more time for after school activities but with the right preplanning and will to focus on safety rather than money both of these problems can be dealt with. School should be one of the greatest challenges that allows teenagers to grow into the educated, invested young adults that this nation hopes and needs them to be. Such an infinitesimal reason, lack of sleep should not be allowed to steal away the bright futures of teenagers any
For decades, teenagers and early mornings have been at odds. Adolescents all across America seem to share the quality of morning sleepiness and a vampire like aversion to waking up when it is still dark outside, as can be seen in any high school. Public opinion has always been against the teen on this issue stating that they are just “lazy” or were up too late and that their inattentiveness is their fault! However, new studies have unearthed startling evidence against these views. According to Mary Carskadon (a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University and director of the Sleep research Laboratory at E.P. Bradley University Hospital in East Providence, Rhode Island) “in …show more content…
The National Sleep Foundation’s 2006 Sleep in America poll found that many adolescents exhibit symptoms of a depressive mood on a frequent basis, and that these teens are more likely to have sleep problems. The poll calculated depressive mood scores for each of the 1,602 poll respondents by calculating their responses to four mood states which were: do you feel unhappy or depressed, hopeless about the future, nervous or tense, and do you worry too much about things? The results showed that 46% had a low depressive mood score, 36% had a medium mood score, and 17% had a high depressive mood score. Most notably however, was the fact that 73% of the kids who reported feeling depressed also reported not getting enough sleep at night and being very tired during the day [Teens and Sleep]. This survey shows a direct link between sleep deprivation and depression in teens. Lack of sleep affects mood and a depressed mood can lead to worrying and a lack of sleep. To combat this cycle there is only one thing that can be done. Teens need to get more sleep. All of these reasons for more sleep amount to teens being better prepared to learn and also happier and healthier, so why don’t schools start at the optimal times for happier, healthier, alert …show more content…
Due to their natural sleep patterns and school which conflicts them, teenagers are at more risk for health issues, depression, and are nowhere near at their academic best to deal with school or activities in general. Schools start too early because it saves costs on transportation and allows more time for after school activities but with the right preplanning and will to focus on safety rather than money both of these problems can be dealt with. School should be one of the greatest challenges that allows teenagers to grow into the educated, invested young adults that this nation hopes and needs them to be. Such an infinitesimal reason, lack of sleep should not be allowed to steal away the bright futures of teenagers any