So Much to Do Before I Sleep: Investigating Adolescent-Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Sleep

Abstract

Adolescent sleep deprivation is a pressing public health issue in the United States as well as other countries. The contexts of adolescents’ lives are changing rapidly, but little is known about the factors that adolescents themselves believe affect their sleep. This study uses a social-ecological framework to investigate multiple levels of perceived influence on sleep patterns of urban adolescents. Data were drawn from interviews and surveys conducted in three California public high schools. Most participants identified homework as their primary barrier to sleep, particularly those engaged in procrastinating, multitasking, or those with extracurricular demands. Results indicate that the home context has important implications for adolescent sleep, including noise, household rules, and perceived parent values. These findings identify important areas for future research and intervention, particularly regarding the roles of parents.

The challenges of adolescent sleep

“…However, adolescents were asked what they royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsfs Interface Focus 10: 20190080 thought impeded their sleep in a number of recently published studies that included a qualitative approach [34,70]. A study in three US high schools used semi-structured interviews and surveys with 14-to 19-year-olds to investigate self-reported barriers to sleep [70]. The adolescents who took part reported an average weekday sleep duration of 7 h, 18 min and multiple contextual barriers to sleep.…”

“…Much research into adolescent sleep has used solely quantitative methods. However, adolescents were asked what they royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsfs Interface Focus 10: 20190080 thought impeded their sleep in a number of recently published studies that included a qualitative approach [34,70]. A study in three US high schools used semi-structured interviews and surveys with 14-to 19-year-olds to investigate self-reported barriers to sleep [70].…”

Facilitators and Barriers of Sleep in Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes

“…24 There are limited qualitative studies on perceived barriers and facilitators of sleep in adolescents and young adults without chronic conditions. [25][26][27][28] Feeling stressed, watching television, 26 being unable to fall asleep, 27 homework, 25,26 and socializing with friends 26,27 were reported to be perceived barriers of sufficient sleep, in adolescents without chronic conditions. Barriers to modifying sleep behavior were time demands, technology use, difficulty switching off their brains, and unpredictable habits, and enablers to modifying sleep behavior reported were advancing bedtimes and minimizing phone use in one study of adolescents and young adults without chronic conditions.…”

Sleep in an At Risk Adolescent Group: A Qualitative Exploration of the Perspectives, Experiences and Needs of Youth Who Have Been Excluded From Mainstream Education

“…24 Incorporating these views can help us understand what enables a young person to be willing and able to improve their sleep. 25,26 Qualitative studies have used interviews to explore topics including healthy sleep and barriers for sleep in Canada 27 and the US 28,29 and focus group methodology for UK adolescents about their perceptions 30 and US adolescents about healthy sleep mechanisms. 31 Adolescents who have been excluded from mainstream education may have characteristics in common with populations of adolescents that research suggests suffer consequences of poor sleep.…”

“…Qualitative studies have used interviews to explore topics including healthy sleep and barriers for sleep in Canada 27 and the US 28 , 29 and focus group methodology for UK adolescents about their perceptions 30 and US adolescents about healthy sleep mechanisms. 31 …”