While sleep issues among youngsters are a prime concern across the globe, on World Sleep Day, a study released in India said that most Indians slept less than six hours. Local Circles, a community platform conducted a sleep survey with 41,000 respondents found out that in the last two years, the percentage of Indians experiencing less than six hours of uninterrupted sleep has risen from 50% to 61%.
The National Sleep Foundation and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research guidelines recommend 7 to 9 hours of sleep for young adults which is imperative for good health. However, at least 60 percent of youngsters have poor quality of sleep, making them feel unrested when they wake up. This can result in psychological and wellness issues, say experts at the #WorldSleepDay webinar hosted by Happiest Health on March 15 2024.
Why are youngsters not sleeping enough?
Speaking in the webinar, Dr Vasunethra Kasargod, consultant pulmonologist at Manipal Hospitals, Bangalore highlights the significance of sleep, particularly emphasizing its neglect in both Indian and possibly global contexts.
The most common issue among youngsters is insomnia, he says. Youngsters’ sleep is often compromised leading to health issues. Quoting an example during exam season, he said, “Exam periods exacerbate this issue, with instances of severe sleep deprivation reported.” He mentions one of the students who came to him with sleep issues and was only getting two hours of sleep per night.
Sleep deprivation may be linked to various behavioral and psychological issues, attributing it primarily to stress. Additionally, the prevalence of electronic gadgets, game addictions and exposure to blue light further contribute to sleep disturbances, say experts.
Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma, clinical psychologist, Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru shares an interesting aspect of human nature, which can be attributed to sleep deprivation – FOMO (Fear of Missing Out something).
He says youngsters often feel the urge to share information and be a hero in the circle by breaking sensational news. “This makes them to push their sleep without a realization that it can be harmful. There are also some other psychological markers like depression, interpersonal conflicts, peer pressures, relationship issues which can add to the sleep issues,” he added.
The Study-Stress-Parenting Syndrome
Dr Yishan Xu, a licensed clinical psychologist, board certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist in California shares some insights into the prominent problems which young adults face day in and out.
Sleep disorders: There are over 90 different sleep disorders, including issues like snoring, narcolepsy, and breathing problems, which can lead to inadequate sleep and poor sleep quality, says Dr Xu.
Behavioral sleep problems: Dr Xu says that these often involve difficulties in initiating sleep despite feeling sleepy, issues with boundary and limit setting, family conflicts, major life events, and mental health disorders like depression and anxiety can be the major causative factors.
Parenting downsides: Sometimes parents fail to realize the importance of sleep and end up pressurizing their children. Dr Xu says, “They should be reminded that if one does not get enough sleep, children can make more mistakes in their exams, and it can impact their overall attention span, learning ability, memory, decision making, etc.”
Other factors: Society-wide factors also impact sleep, such as school start times; for example, in California, she said that delaying school start times for teenagers has been recognized as important due to their delayed circadian rhythm. She added, “Busy schedules with schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and sports can further reduce teenagers’ sleep time, impacting their overall well-being and academic performance.”
Common sleep issues among youngsters
Insomnia is a significant issue, but clinicians should also focus on other sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea, especially considering the growing obesity rates among teenagers. Dr Kasargod says that in the Indian context, snoring is often overlooked as a healthy trait, but it can be indicative of obstructive sleep apnea.
“Conditions like tonsillar enlargement or deviated nasal septum can contribute to obstructive sleep apnea, leading to poor sleep quality, daytime drowsiness, and academic difficulties,” Dr Kasargod. Allergic rhinitis and asthma can also disrupt sleep with both nocturnal and daytime symptoms, impacting overall well-being, he says.
Parasomnia and circadian rhythm-associated sleep disorders are also common and should be considered by clinicians when addressing sleep issues in teenagers, he said.
Takeaways
- A significant portion of youngsters (at least 60%) experience poor sleep quality, which can have long-term health consequences.
- Experts highlight a multitude of factors contributing to sleep deprivation among youngsters, including exam stress, psychological issues like FOMO (fear of missing out), depression, interpersonal conflicts, or peer pressure other than disorders.
- Parental pressure and societal factors, such as early school start times and demanding schedules can exacerbate sleep problems among teenagers.
- Addressing sleep issues is subjective and a holistic wellness approach can help.
