Teenagers
who don’t get enough sleep on school nights may be more likely to take
risks with their health. A new CDC study shows high school students who
sleep less than eight hours on school nights are more likely to drink
alcohol, smoke cigarettes, seriously consider suicide, and engage in a
variety of other risky behaviors. The study showed that more than
two-thirds of high school students did not get at least eight hours of
sleep on school nights. Students who did not get enough sleep were more
likely to engage in at least 10 different risky behaviors than students
who got enough sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 8.5 to
9.25 hours of sleep for children aged 10 to17. The results showed 68.9%
of high school students reported insufficient sleep. Teens who reported
not getting enough sleep were:
Teens who didn’t get enough sleep were also more likely to drink soda, be physically inactive, and use a computer for three or more hours per day.
- 86% more likely to have seriously considered attempting suicide.
- 67% more likely to smoke cigarettes.
- 64% more likely to drink alcohol.
- 62% more likely to feel sad or hopeless.
- 52% more likely to use marijuana.
- 41% more likely to be sexually active.
- 40% more likely to be in a physical fight one or more times.
Teens who didn’t get enough sleep were also more likely to drink soda, be physically inactive, and use a computer for three or more hours per day.
