Impact of Delaying School Start Time on Adolescent Sleep, Mood, and Behavior

Abstract

To examine the impact of a 30-minute delay in school start time on adolescents' sleep, mood, and behavior.Design: Participants completed the online retrospective Sleep Habits Survey before and after a change in school start time.Setting: An independent high school in Rhode Island.Participants: Students (n=201) in grades 9 through 12.Intervention: Institution of a delay in school start time from 8 to 8:30 AM.Main Outcome Measures: Sleep patterns and behavior, daytime sleepiness, mood, data from the Health Center, and absences/tardies. Results: After the start time delay, mean school night sleep duration increased by 45 minutes, and average bedtime advanced by 18 minutes (95% confidence interval, 7-29 minutes [t 423 = 3.36; P Ͻ .001]); the percentage of students getting less than 7 hours of sleep decreased by 79.4%, and those reporting at least 8 hours of sleep increased from 16.4% to 54.7%. Students reported significantly more satisfaction with sleep and experienced improved motivation. Daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and depressed mood were all reduced. Most health-related variables, including Health Center visits for fatigue-related complaints, and class attendance also improved.Conclusions: A modest delay in school start time was associated with significant improvements in measures of adolescent alertness, mood, and health. The results of this study support the potential benefits of adjusting school schedules to adolescents' sleep needs, circadian rhythm, and developmental stage.

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

“…In fact, while this article and Special Issue were being prepared, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement recommending that middle and high schools delay the start of class to 8:30 a.m. or later (American Academy of Pediatrics 2014). A sizeable body of research finds earlier school start times to be associated with adolescents obtaining less sleep, exhibiting increased daytime sleepiness, and being more frequently tardy to school (Carrell et al 2011;Carskadon et al 1998;Dexter et al 2003;Edwards 2012;Hansen et al 2005;Owens et al 2010;Wahlstrom et al 2014;Wolfson et al 2007;Zhou et al 2012). Lufi et al (2011) showed that middle school students showed improved attention and decreased impulsivity when school start time was delayed by 1 h. Owens et al (2010) also found that adolescents showed improved mood and greater motivation after a later school start time was implemented.…”

“…A sizeable body of research finds earlier school start times to be associated with adolescents obtaining less sleep, exhibiting increased daytime sleepiness, and being more frequently tardy to school (Carrell et al 2011;Carskadon et al 1998;Dexter et al 2003;Edwards 2012;Hansen et al 2005;Owens et al 2010;Wahlstrom et al 2014;Wolfson et al 2007;Zhou et al 2012). Lufi et al (2011) showed that middle school students showed improved attention and decreased impulsivity when school start time was delayed by 1 h. Owens et al (2010) also found that adolescents showed improved mood and greater motivation after a later school start time was implemented. Similarly, Wahlstrom et al (2014) recently found in a longitudinal, multi-site study in the US, that a school start time of 8:35 a.m. or later was associated with adolescents obtaining better grades as well as performing better on state and national achievement tests.…”

Neuroscience and education: prime time to build the bridge

“…Starting school later 25 is a relatively easy implementation that could enhance learning, but is unpopular among parents, who need to go to work around the same time school starts. Rather than asking students to refrain from sleeping at school or to arrive later, naps could be explicitly employed as educational tools.…”

Sleep in Childhood and Adolescence: Age-Specific Sleep Characteristics, Common Sleep Disturbances and Associated Difficulties

“…Indeed, altered sleep patterns and sleep loss during adolescence have been associated with decrements in cognitive functioning, mood regulation and academic performance . Delaying school start times by as little as 30 minutes has been shown to have beneficial effects on alertness, mood, and general health (Owens et al 2010). …”