Hot Topic: Teen Sleep Needs

Victoria Reyes

Arizona State University

SED 464

Lori Lovitt

02/07/2021
Victoria Reyes

02/07/2021

Arizona State University

Lori Lovitt

Hot Topic: Teen Sleep Needs

Adolescents need to sleep. William Glasser said it best in his 5 basic needs. Sleep is one

of the physiologically and survival needs. Adolescents need 8-10 hours of sleep per 24 hours.

Electronics, and a growing body can cause these adolescents to not get enough sleep. Schools

have even cut down on after school study hours, and homework to provide a student more time

to relax and fall asleep easier and longer.

So how much sleep does a teenager really need? A teenager needs about 8-10 hours of

sleep per 24 hours. According to the CDC.gov they conducted a national sample stating “About

7 out of 10 (72.7%) did not get enough sleep on school nights”. Not getting enough sleep can

really confuse an adolescents brain and thinking. William Glasser’s choice theory is based on 5

basic needs. In a diagram the first need is physiological needs, needs that you must obtain to

survive. These beings: food, water, sleep, and many more. If the basic needs are not being met

appropriately, an adolescent is more likely to react with their emotions and not use their

developing “reason” part of their brain. From Glasser’s theory, if an adolescent’s physiological

needs (correct amount of sleep) is not met, this need leads to the student reacting emotionally,

angry, tired, and possibly not themself.. These two: basic needs, and social, emotional learning

work hand in hand because one triggers the other. Sleep helps to fuel your brain and your body.

Teens need more sleep because their bodies and minds are growing quickly. Teens that don't get
enough sleep have trouble with memory, concentrating in school and motivation to accomplish a

goal. Sleep is important and should be taken seriously.

Many teens in 2020 and 2021 have been drawn to scrolling social media for

entertainment. These can also be sources for relaxation for adolescents, but unfortunately they

have a negative connotation to them as well. These social media applications on electronics are

distractions that keep teens up at night when they should be trying to drift off into their deep

sleep. Child Mind Institute helps break down the exact contributor that is keeping these teens

from gaining their full rest. “It's the actual light coming off all the electronic devices they’re

exposed to, especially late at night. Electronics emit a glow called blue light that has a particular

frequency. When it hits receptors in the eye, those receptors send a signal to the brain which

suppresses the production of melatonin and keeps kids from feeling tired. And adolescents are

low on melatonin and start producing it later to begin with” (Garey, 4). Teens truly need sleep to

keep them from getting set back developmentally. Another contributor to teens not getting a

sufficient amount of sleep is homework. Although it may sound like students are complaining

they have “too much homework” when trying to balance extra curriculars and then homework

afterwards there have been many voiced opinions about how these teens stay up late finishing

their english papers, or completing projects.

Moving forward, schools want to improve and help their adolescent students with their

lack of sleep. Dr. Naah Siegal shares his thoughts on how schools should help improve these

needs. “Changing school start times can offer teenagers the opportunity to get the nine or more

hours of sleep that they need, and establishing healthy sleep behaviors at home can help ensure

that they do.” Having school set their start time back closer to 8:30 or 9 am would give students

the opportunity to get the amount of sleep they need. This can also help students be more
present in the classroom and healthier overall because they are meeting their developmental

needs as well.

Teens need to sleep for 8-10 hours each night to properly develop their bodies, and

minds. It is important for a teenager to understand how not meeting their sleep needs can affect

them negatively. They can become set back developmentally, or have trouble with memory,

concentrating in school and motivation as well. In order for these students to become successful

they must meet their basic need of sleep first, and the correct amount of it to be exact.
 References

Garey, J. (2020, August 18). Why are teenagers so sleep-deprived. Retrieved February 07,

2021, from https://childmind.org/article/teenagers-sleep-deprived/

Siegel, N. (2019, June 21). Why teenagers need more sleep - and why high schools should

push start Times later - focus - a health blog from Mass eye and ear. Retrieved February

06, 2021, from https://focus.masseyeandear.org/why-teenagers-need-more-sleep-and-why-

high-schools-should-push-start-times-later/

Sleep in middle and high school students. (2020, September 10). Retrieved February 07,

2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/features/students-sleep.htm