LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN

PIDDIG NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ON THE EFFECTS OF SLEEP

RESTRICTIONS

A Quantitative Research Proposal Presented

to the Junior High School Department
of Piddig National High School
Piddig, Ilocos Norte

Cuaresma, Angellie Rose B.

Dapilan, Kian Angelo A.
Guya, Mar Jovi V.
Idica, Danielle Marie A.
Valdez, Lovely J.
Quidilla, Mark Justine S.

April 2023
 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM: RATIONALE AND BACKGROUND

This chapter presents the background of the study, the statement of the

problem, the delimination of the study, the review of related literature, the

theoretical framework, and the conceptual framework.

Background of the Study

The importance of sleep has been recognized by researchers as a crucial

aspect of health and development. However, recent studies have shown that
teenagers

may be at risk for sleep deprivation due to a variety of factors, including academic
and

social pressures, technology use, and biological changes during adolescence

(National

Sleep Foundation, n.d.). This has led to concerns about the impact of sleep
deprivation

on academic achievement, mental health, and overall well-being.

One study conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that

deprivation is associated with increased risk for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and

depression in adolescents (Owens et al., 2014). Another study published in the

Journal of Adolescent Health found that adolescent sleep deprivation is associated

with decreased academic performance, especially in math and science (Wolfson &

Carskadon, 1998).

Despite these findings, many high school students continue to experience sleep

deprivation. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC) found that only 15% of high school students report getting the recommended

8.5 hours of sleep on school nights (Wheaton et al., 2018). This highlights the need

for increased awareness and education about the importance of sleep among

teenagers.

In particular, senior high school students may be at greater risk for sleep

deprivation due to the demands of college preparation and extracurricular activities.

One study published in the Journal of Sleep Research found that senior high school

students had significantly shorter sleep durations than junior high school students

(Li et al., 2020).

Therefore, there is a pressing need to raise awareness among senior high school

students about the importance of sleep and the potential negative consequences of

sleep deprivation. This can be achieved through educational campaigns, school

policies promoting healthy sleep habits, and support from parents and caregivers.

Ultimately, addressing sleep deprivation among teenagers can have a significant

impact on their academic success and overall well-being. Having this in mind, the

researchers would like to evaluate the level of awareness among senior high school

students in Piddig National High School.

Statement of the Problem

“Level of Awareness of Senior High School Students in Piddig National High School

on Effects of Sleep Restrictions”

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

1. Is there a statistically significant difference on the level of awareness of senior high

school students in Piddig National High Schools?

2. Does the level of awareness of senior high school students vary with respect to

age?

3. Does the level of awareness of senior high school students vary with respect to

gender?

Delimination of the Study

This study is only limited in determining the level of awareness of senior high

school students in Piddig National High School and knowing whether there is a

significant difference on the levels of awareness of these respondents when classified

according to strand and gender.

 The Descriptive-Survey Research method is employed in the study. This study

wuill seek information from randomly selected senior high school students of Piddig

National High School using researches made questionnaire and determine their level

of awareness.

Review of Related Literature

Sleep restriction has long been thought to be a benign phenomenon, relative to

sleep deprivation (Banks & Dinges, 2007; Dinges et al., 1997; Short & Banks, 2014). This

assumption in part stems from previous literature that failed to incorporate adequate

methodological considerations required in sleep restriction research (Banks & Dinges, 2007),

thus leading to the belief that sleep restriction produces little adverse effects (Short & Banks,

2014). Conceivably, this assumption may also stem from the reported phenomenon in which

sleep restricted individuals underreport and lack insight into the negative effects they

experience as a result of their reduced sleep duration (Banks & Dinges, 2007; Short & Banks,

2014). Meaning, sleep restricted individuals tend to underreport and not accurately pinpoint

areas of their functioning that may be harmed by chronic sleep restriction. In addition, sleep

restriction has increasingly become a characteristic feature of modern society (Luyster et al.,

2012) and may thus be viewed as a normalized experience, possibly leading individuals to

discount the negative impacts that the restricted sleep habits may have.

Increasing amounts of research however, are documenting the deleterious effects

that sleep restriction poses for one’s health and wellbeing. For instance, Banks and Dinges

(2007) reported that short-term sleep restriction, as defined by restricting one’s sleep to four

hours per night for a span of six nights, is associated with marked physiological changes,

such as reduced glucose intolerance, elevated blood pressure and inflammatory markers,
increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system and reduced leptin levels.

Furthermore, they also reported a relationship between sleep restriction and weight gain (and

possibly obesity) – a relationship primarily mediated by appetite-regulating hormones, such

as leptin and ghrelin (Banks & Dinges, 2007). Moreover, sleep restriction results in elevated

markers of inflammation, including IL-6 and TNF-alpha, having consequences in the form of

insulin-resistance, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease (Banks & Dinges, 2007). In terms

of the psychological consequences, they found ensuing mood disturbances in the form of

sleepiness, confusion, and fatigue, and in terms of the neurocognitive consequences, detailed

a reduction in psychomotor vigilance and slowed working memory (Banks & Dinges, 2007).

Finally, the summation of physiological, psychological, and neurocognitive deficits resulting

from sleep restriction enhance the risk of motor vehicle accidents and death (Banks &

Dinges, 2007).

Moreover, sleep restriction results in elevated markers of inflammation,

including IL-6 and TNF-alpha, having consequences in the form of insulin-

resistance, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease (Banks & Dinges, 2007). In terms

of the psychological consequences, they found ensuing mood disturbances in the

form of sleepiness, confusion, and fatigue, and in terms of the neurocognitive

consequences, detailed a reduction in psychomotor vigilance and slowed working

memory (Banks & Dinges, 2007). Finally, the summation of physiological,

psychological, and neurocognitive deficits resulting from sleep restriction enhance

the risk of motor vehicle accidents and death (Banks & Dinges, 2007).

Luyster and colleagues (2012) echo similar warnings with respect to the

deleterious effects associated with sleep restriction. Broadly speaking, they state that
individuals encounter the greatest risks in the realms of cardiovascular and

metabolic functioning and develop increased vulnerability for developing cancer

and/or being involved in a motor vehicle accident. More specifically, they posit that

short sleep duration is associated with increased risk of cerebrovascular accidents,

particularly of an ischemic nature, as well as myocardial infarction and

atherosclerosis. Metabolically, they described an emerging trend in behavioral sleep

medicine to hypothesize an inverse relationship between habitual number of hours

slept and one’s body mass index, obesity, and risk of developing type 2 diabetes. With

respect to the link between short sleep duration and cancer, Luyster et al., (2012)

indicated that individuals routinely having short sleep durations are at an increased

risk of developing breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Finally, and similar to

Banks and Dinges’ (2007) stance, Luyster and colleagues (2012) indicated that “sleep

deprivation results in impairments in cognitive and motor performance that are

comparable to those induced by alcohol consumption at or above the legal limit” (p.

731). While referring to sleep deprivation and not restriction, it stands to reason that

chronically achieving fewer hours of sleep than is needed and experiencing feelings

of sleepiness has implications for one’s cognitive and motor performance as well.

Importantly, it is estimated that approximately 20% of motor vehicle accidents are

attributable to impaired driving as a result of sleepiness (Luyster et al., 2012).

Suarez (2008) went a step further and provided intriguing evidence that

many of the links between short sleep duration and reduced health may be mediated

by one’s gender. In other words, it was found that there are gender-specific

associations when it comes to sleep restriction and ensuing consequences for one’s

health. For example, increased sleep latency, and reduced self-reported sleep quality
– measures of poor sleep hygiene, were associated with elevated psychosocial

distress, fasting insulin, fibrinogen and inflammatory biomarkers, but only amongst

the women in the study (Suarez, 2008). The author reasoned that these findings may

be partially explicated by the gender-related differences that have been observed

with a variety of neurochemicals, including tryptophan, serotonin, and melatonin

(Suarez, 2008). More specifically, these neurochemicals play a role in sleep, sleep

onset, as well as biological and psychological processes including mood regulation,

inflammation, thrombogenesis, and eating, and may exert differential effects when it

comes to women’s sleep patterns. Of importance, is the notion that women differ in

their hormonal composition and vulnerability to the negative effects of sleep

restriction, thus adding weight to the importance of partialing out gender in research

paradigms of behavioral sleep medicine.

Broadly speaking, the negative outcomes that individuals encounter as a

result of sleep restriction have biological, psychological, or neurocognitive

consequences. Given that sleep is a behavior that uniformly takes place across the

animal kingdom, that it is encoded in our genes, and that it is necessary for our

survival (Luyster et al., 2012), it stands to reason that restricted amount of sleep have

the potential to produce profound deficits in one’s health and wellbeing. As

indicated, the current study will attempt to explore the biological, psychological, and

neurocognitive consequences of sleep that is either naturally restricted or

experimentally restricted amongst a sample of women.

Theoretical Framework
 The theoretical framework for level of awareness of senior high school

students on the effects of sleep restrictions with citations. The theoretical framework

for level of awareness of senior high school students on the effects of sleep

restrictions can be based on the cognitive-behavioral theory (CBT) and the health

belief model (HBM).

According to CBT, behaviors and attitudes are influenced by the individual's

thoughts and beliefs. Therefore, a person's level of awareness regarding the effects of

sleep restrictions can be influenced by their beliefs about the importance of sleep and

its effects on their health and well-being (Lichstein et al., 2008). In this case, senior

high school students' awareness regarding the effects of sleep restriction can be

influenced by their beliefs about the importance of sleep, the consequences of sleep

deprivation, and the benefits of getting enough sleep. On the other hand, HBM

suggests that individuals' health behaviors are determined by their perceived

susceptibility to the health problem, the severity of the consequences of the health

problem, the benefits of taking preventive action, and the barriers to taking

preventive action (Rosenstock, 1974). In this framework, senior high school students'

level of awareness regarding the effects of sleep restriction can be influenced by their

perceived susceptibility to the negative effects of sleep restriction, the severity of

these effects, the benefits of getting enough sleep, and the barriers to getting enough

sleep.
Conceptual Framework

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

AGE

Level of Awareness of
Senior High School
Students

STRAND