Analysis of Sleep Deprivation Issue Among Teenagers Essay Example

Late nights, coffee, and a mountain of assignments are part of every stereotypical teenager’s life. On average, the typical teen gets approximately six to seven and a half hours of sleep each night, but scientists and pediatricians consider at least nine hours healthy for teenagers. The amount of sleep teenagers get does, however, fluctuate depending on each individual’s workload and responsibilities. Since technology plays a significant role in almost every person’s life in a first-country world, it is not surprising that parents often blame their children’s messed-up sleep schedule on electronic devices. More specifically, social media and screen time are often seen as the primary causes of sleep deprivation amongst teens, even though there are more underlying factors involved. 

Environmental factors such as noise, light, and temperature have various effects on how easily one can sleep. Environments influences sleep quality, therefore external disturbances will make it more difficult to fall asleep. Loud noise levels, whether it is from neighbors, family, or social gatherings, can “decrease your sleep intensity, cause you to wake more often during the night” (World Sleep Day). One of the few factors that cannot be controlled according to one’s will is noise, therefore teenagers simply must deal with any commotion outside their room. In addition, sleeping in a room that is too hot compared to a cold one can cause discomfort and restlessness, since we usually sleep when our body temperature decreases. For some disadvantaged individuals, possessing a thermostat or having the ability to control it is not a privilege they have. That can create even more difficulty in sleeping in comfortable conditions during the winter or summertime. It can be hard to adjust light and noise levels, especially for teens who must share rooms with another sibling. Conflicts and differences in night routines may erupt in such situations, which can make it even more challenging to fall asleep. Without the ability to control all circumstances, it may often turn into a situation where teens can only learn to cope with such environments.

The biological changes occurring to a teenager’s body and transitioning into a “real” teenager can disrupt their sleeping cycle. When undergoing puberty, some hormones shift the body’s clock forward and make the teen sleep a few hours later (Channel). This can pose a problem for teenage students who start school early in the morning, since they go to bed late but still have to wake up bright and early. Transitioning into the physical attributes of a young adult usually comes during high school, where school start times can be as early as seven a.m. In such cases, sleeping two hours later essentially means losing two hours of sleep. Some students must even wake up much earlier than the school start time in order to fulfill other responsibilities like early morning sports practices or catching the bus. As a result, teens try to make up for the missing hours of sleep by sleeping in longer during the weekends. This, however, further disturbs the timing of one’s internal clock (otherwise known as circadian rhythm). The negative effects of the natural shift in circadian rhythm are amplified when combined with the number of responsibilities and workload teens are given. 

Continuing, it can be difficult to balance a good night’s rest with a stockpile of responsibilities. Many students take more rigorous classes and have multiple extracurricular activities to stand out for college applications. This comes hand-in-hand with extra stress and competitiveness to excel, not only for themselves but also parents. Adjusting to a more rapid-paced and busy schedule can be difficult, so it is not unsurprising for teens to resort to caffeinated drinks to get them through the day or even at night. “Certain lifestyle factors, such as drinking coffee or smoking cigarettes prior to bedtime, can stimulate the nervous system and delay the onset of sleep” (Dutta). Pulling all-nighters to complete assignments happens rather often, and the only thing teens consider helpful is downing a cup of coffee or energy drink. Even though it may assist in staying up late, it causes their body to feel tired earlier in the day and more easily. The cycle of staying awake at night and sleeping during the day creates further complications in fixing one’s sleep schedule.

It can be difficult to say that a contributing reason why teens head to bed so late is not due to their electronic devices. It is, without a doubt, challenging to locate an adolescent in America who currently does not use or possess an electronic device. However, not every teenager with an electronic has social media or play games; it could be used purely for educational purposes instead. What comes with the usage of technology is blue light, a short-wavelength enriched light. The cause of decreased feelings of drowsiness is because of “blue light, which has been shown to reduce or delay the natural production of melatonin in the evening...” (Pacheco). Melatonin, the hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle in humans, is essential in helping with the regulation of one’s circadian rhythm. Messing with melatonin production can be detrimental to having a good night’s rest by pushing back one’s sleep time and messing up their sleep-wake cycle. 

With social media and technology being more prominent in current society, it can be easy to blame social media for causing sleep deprivation amongst teenagers. Rather than focusing the attention on social platforms, the spotlight should be directed on other smaller, yet important factors. Environmental challenges, physical and mental transitions into a teenager, and rigorous courses all negatively affect a teenager’s sleep schedule. In order to create a healthier sleep routine, teens need to be more aware of the factors required to have a healthier lifestyle. Making the proper adjustments would allow for better and proper sleep that would benefit adolescents from now to many years ahead.