Parents are wrong about teenage sleep and health

The Harvard Gazette published “Parents Are So Wrong About Teenage Sleep and Health” on September 28, 2022. They summarize results of a survey conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. 

They observe the following:

“Adolescents face myriad barriers when it comes to sleep, some of which are physiological and others behavioral,” said corresponding author Rebecca Robbins, a researcher in the Brigham’s Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders and a Harvard Medical School instructor. . . . “Caregivers and adolescents commonly turn to the Internet and social media for guidance on topics such as sleep. Although these platforms can be sources of evidence-based information, there is the chance that misinformation can proliferate on these platforms.”

They ultimately surveyed 200 parents and caregivers and found the following:

• “Going to bed and waking up late on the weekends is no big deal for adolescents, as long as they get enough sleep during that time.”

Approximately 74 percent of parents/caregivers agreed with this myth. But, the researchers explain, varying sleep schedules on the weekend — also known as “social jetlag” — can worsen sleep and does not restore sleep deficits. The authors cite studies showing that varying sleep schedules on the weekend can lead to lower academic performance, risky behaviors such as excessive alcohol consumption, and increased mental health symptoms.

• “If school starts later, adolescents will stay up that much later.”

About 69 percent of parents/caregivers agreed with this myth. Robbins and colleagues cite numerous studies showing that delayed middle and high school start times resulted in significantly more sleep, with extended sleep in the morning and minimal impact on bedtimes.

• “Melatonin supplements are safe for an adolescent because they are natural.”

Two-thirds of parents/caregivers believed this myth. While melatonin has become a common supplement for adults and adolescents, longer-term studies on its use are lacking, particularly when it comes to melatonin’s effects on puberty and development. The content of melatonin in supplements varies widely. The authors also raise concerns about teens taking melatonin without medical evaluation or supervision, and without using behavioral interventions to help address insomnia.

They acknowledge their small sample; however, it may be not only worth it to ask about teen sleep, as I have mentioned before, but also about parents’ beliefs about sleep.