Daily Variation in Adolescents' Sleep, Activities, and Psychological Well‐Being

Abstract

The daily diary method was used to examine the daily dynamics of adolescent sleep time, activities, and psychological well-being among an ethnically diverse sample of over 750 adolescents approximately 14-15 years of age. Studying and stressful demands during the day were modestly but consistently associated with less sleep that evening. Receiving less sleep at night, in turn, was modestly but consistently related to higher levels of anxiety, depressive feelings, and fatigue during the following day. In addition, the daily variability in adolescents' sleep time was notable and just as important for the youths' average levels of daily psychological well-being as was the average amount of time spent sleeping each night. A small number of ethnic and gender differences emerged in the dynamics of adolescent sleep, activities, and well-being. Discussion focuses on the importance of examining variability in adolescents' sleep behaviors in order to better understand the implications of sleep for adolescent well-being and development.

Sleep timing and quantity in ecological and family context: A nationally representative time-diary study.

“…In contrast, Crosby, LeBourgeois, and Harsh (2005) found that African American children (ages 2 to 8 years) had fewer hours of nighttime sleep but were more likely to nap than Caucasian children, resulting in similar total sleep hours. Fuligni and Hardway (2006) found Mexican adolescents reported more sleep on weekdays than those from European or Chinese backgrounds and found no racial/ethnic differences in weekend sleep hours or sleep variability. In the current study, we extended this past research by examining the extent to which racial/ethnic differences in sleep patterns are present in a nationally representative sample of both children and adolescents, and whether associations between race/ ethnicity and sleep are independent of the influence of family process, school schedule, and child activity variables.…”

Advancing a Biopsychosocial and Contextual Model of Sleep in Adolescence: A Review and Introduction to the Special Issue

“…Fuligni and Hardway (2006) found more time spent with friends each day to be associated with both average sleep duration and variability in sleep duration. Of note, positive peer relationships may have a positive effect on sleep functioning.…”

“…Last, in a longitudinal, community-based study of 386 youth, childhood sleep problems predicted maternal ratings of internalizing problems in adolescence, with findings similar for boys and girls (Wong et al 2009 (Talbot et al 2010) as well as worsened mood and a decreased ability to regulate negative emotions (Baum et al 2014). In a daily diary study where adolescents reported on their sleep habits, daily activities (e.g., time spent studying, watching television), and mood each day over a 2-week period, Fuligni and Hardway (2006) found studying and stressful demands during the day to predict less sleep that evening, which in turn was associated with adolescents reporting higher levels of anxiety, depression, and fatigue the next day. Moreover, no evidence was found for daily ratings of anxiety and depression to impact that night's sleep (Fuligni and Hardway 2006), supporting the possibility that sleep has a negative impact on mood/anxiety more so than the reverse.…”

“…It is clear that shorter sleep duration, poor sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness are concurrently associated with both anxiety and depression in adolescents (e.g., Do et al 2013;Fuligni and Hardway 2006;KirmilGray et al 1984;Manni et al 1997;McKnight-Eily et al 2011;Moore et al 2009;Roberts et al 2001;Sarchiapone et al 2014;Yen et al 2010). Given the number of studies that have examined the interrelations of sleep and anxiety/ depression in adolescents, the following review focuses on longitudinal studies in this area.…”

“…In a daily diary study where adolescents reported on their sleep habits, daily activities (e.g., time spent studying, watching television), and mood each day over a 2-week period, Fuligni and Hardway (2006) found studying and stressful demands during the day to predict less sleep that evening, which in turn was associated with adolescents reporting higher levels of anxiety, depression, and fatigue the next day. Moreover, no evidence was found for daily ratings of anxiety and depression to impact that night's sleep (Fuligni and Hardway 2006), supporting the possibility that sleep has a negative impact on mood/anxiety more so than the reverse.…”