Credits: Social Media
Teens’ sleeping habits as children face greater risk of substance use, warns study
Your sleeping habit directly impacts your health and children who do not get enough rest growing up are more likely to engage in risky behavior when as young as 15 years.
Sleep is essential for several bodily functions and lack of which can be dangerous not just to you, but for others as well. The relationship between sleep and illnesses related to the mind and body is well-established. Researchers are now understanding its influence on substance use.
Teens engage in risky behavior if they lack sleep as children
Poor sleep is detrimental to your overall well-being. It contributes to physical and mental health issues, affects your cognitive performance, directly affects your immune system, as well as increases the risk of injuries.
In addition to the above, children who sleep less or indulge in later bedtimes, are more likely to try alcohol and marijuana by the age of 15.
The findings of the study led by the researchers at Penn University are alarming as they claim that sleeping less than an hour at the age of nine is associated with increased odds of trying marijuana as a teen.
After analyzing data from 1,514 children, the researchers established the degree to which poor sleep impacts problematic behaviors in teens with below numbers.
- Teens were 45% more likely to try alcohol by the age 15 if they had a later bedtime at the age of nine.
- Later bedtime at the age of five is associated with 26% increased odds of trying marijuana by the age 15.
- Sleeping an hour less at the age of nine influences an adolescents decision to try marijuana as a teen.
- Teens who went to bed late or slept little face a 39% greater chance of drinking alcohol and a 34% greater chance of trying marijuana.
Why sleeping well is crucial
As society grapples with substance addiction, the latest study for the first time links it to sleep health among children, which directly impacts their behaviors as teens.
Bringing more attention to the lesser-known and little-researched aspects of substance use, co-lead author David Reichenberger said:
Sleep at ages closer to adolescence is the most crucial in terms of future substance use risk. It’s that stage of development when children are rapidly changing and their brain is maturing.
Several other recent studies have tried to explore factors contributing to poorer sleeping habits among the population and it was found that using your phone before bedtime had little impact on how well you rested, while another common habit is believed to cause more harm.
Reportedly, as little as ten minutes of screen time in bed can delay your sleep by half hour. Furthermore, exposure to the blue light from your favorite gadgets is said to affect your longevity.
