A healthy social life can improve sleeping habits in teens, reveals a recent study.
A recent University of Cincinnati study shows that teenagers, who have a positive influence of parents in their life, get adequate amount of sleep with lesser disruptions. A better connection with peers, schoolmates and related people also helps adolescents sleep well.
Teenagers don't get enough amount of sleep, which may affect their performance. Some of them even resort to prescription drugs that may later lead to adverse side effects. Earlier studies have held the hormone 'melatonin' responsible for insomnia in adolescents. However, the latest study asserts that social factors rule above biological ones.
"My study found that social ties were more important than biological development as predictors of teen sleep behaviors," said David Maume, a sociology professor at the University of Cincinnati and the lead author of the study in a press release.
The researchers at University of Cincinnati conducted a detailed analysis of the information derived from more than 1,000 teenagers, tracking them from 12 to 15 years of age. The volunteers were enquired on their sleeping habits, relationship with their parents and interactions in school.
A significant drop in the amount of sleep, from 9.2 hours every night to (at the age of 12) to 7.8 hours per night (at the age of 15) was noticed among the adolescents over a span of three years.
According to the researchers, social ties especially parental role has a greater impact on sleeping patterns in teens rather than just the phases of puberty, states a recent post on Live Science.
Kids whose parents keep a track of their performance and maintain regular bed timings get more rest than others. Peace in the family can also affect their sleep health. Youths who have a disturbed home life (parents separated or not living with the kids) are more susceptible to emotional disorders and experience disturbed sleep.
Also, teens that lead an active life in school and interact better with peers have longer hours of sleep compared to others.
"Teens who have pro-social friends, tend to behave in pro-social ways, which includes taking care of one's health by getting proper sleep," said Maume in a statement.
The study also found that while TV addicts slept longer, they had disturbed sleep. Web savvy teens neither slept well nor did they sleep longer. Plus, girls had more sleep issues than boys.
The National Sleep Foundation suggests reducing television, internet and video games access for a minimum of two hours every day for teens who report sleeping issues. Also the teenagers should avoid caffeinated beverages after lunch.
However, this study misses on the very vital point of the effect of cell phones on teens' sleep patterns, reports Mashable.
