Sleep Deprivation For

Students
Alex Metrusias
What Is Sleep Deprivation And How Does It Work?
For almost a century now, young students all around the country, from kindergarten through college, have all been
withheld from one extremely critical role in their physical and mental health; their sleep. After decades of research
and observations, scientists have proven that less than “9 percent of teens get enough sleep”. They have also
discovered that “56 percent of students consider homework a primary source of stress. Too much homework can
result in lack of sleep, headaches, exhaustion, and weight loss”. Sleep deprivation increases the likelihood teens
will suffer myriad negative consequences, including an inability to concentrate, poor grades, drowsy-driving
incidents, anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide and even suicide attempts.
Statistics Of Sleep Deprivation
While studies show that both adults and teens in industrialized nations are becoming more sleep deprived, the
problem is most acute among teens, said Nanci Yuan, MD, director of the Stanford Children’s Health Sleep Center.
In a detailed 2014 report, the American Academy of Pediatrics called the problem of tired teens a public health
epidemic. Social and cultural factors, as well as the advent of technology, all have collided with the biology of the
adolescent to prevent teens from getting enough rest. Since the early 1990s, it’s been established that teens have
a biologic tendency to go to sleep later - as much as two hours later - than their younger counterparts. Yet when
they enter their high school years, they find themselves at schools that typically start the day at a relatively early
hour.
Pros Of Sleep Deprivation
Though most people might see sleep deprivation as a real problem, interestingly, it can have positive effects such
as tireless stamina, enhanced creativity, heightened awareness, and a cheerful mood. Investigations into its more
positive effects are giving scientists new perceptions about sleep deprivation. Investigations into its more positive
effects are giving scientists new perceptions about sleep deprivation. Scientists have found that everyone is not
affected to the same degree by sleep deprivation. Some people after an episode have a natural resistance to its
negative effects.
Cons Of Sleep Deprivation
However, studies well document the negative effects of sleep deprivation, such as decreased vigilance, impaired
decision-making, reduced concentration, irritability, sleepiness, increased fatigue, and difficulty thinking clearly.
Lack of sleep can also cause your body to release cortisol, a stress hormone that triggers your heart to work
harder. Just like your immune system, your heart needs rest in order to function powerfully and properly. For
students, sleep deprivation increases the likelihood teens will suffer myriad negative consequences, including an
inability to concentrate, poor grades, drowsy-driving incidents, anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide and even
suicide attempts. Furthermore, researchers have found that sleep-deprived teens feel more depressed and
anxious, and in a study of nearly 28,000 high school students, each hour of lost rest was associated with a 38
percent increase in the risk of feeling sad or hopeless, and a 58 percent increase in suicide attempts.
Sources
https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2015/10/among-teens-sleep-deprivation-an-epidemic.html

https://www.sclhealth.org/blog/2018/09/the-benefits-of-getting-a-full-night-sleep/

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/sleep-deprivation-a-love-hate-relationship.html

https://childmind.org/article/teenagers-sleep-deprived/