Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center have shown links between later school start times and decreased risks of anxiety and depression in children.
Your teenager may very well be right. A study of 197 students between the ages of 14 and 17 indicates that starting school after 8:30 AM significantly reduces both anxiety and depression. The study was recently published in the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep Health journal.
Students on an earlier schedule tend to be stressed about sleep in general, and this reduces the quality of sleep they do get, even if they go to sleep at a reasonable hour. In fact, this pressure seems to impact both activity and nutrition levels, meaning that the ramifications of an unhealthy sleep cycle may extend well beyond drowsiness.
The students participating in the study were divided into groups based on whether they started school before or after 8:30 AM. They completed a questionnaire regarding sleep habits, school scheduling, and whether they consider themselves to be more alert and functional in the morning or evening. Each kept a detailed sleep diary over the course of a week, chronicling the time and quality of their sleep — as well as any symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Dr. Peltz, one of the researchers involved, explained the results:
Earlier school start times seem to put more pressure on the sleep process and increase mental health symptoms, while later school start times appear to be a strong protective factor for teens. Maintaining a consistent bedtime, getting between eight and 10 hours of sleep, limiting caffeine, turning off the TV, cell phone and video games before bed; these efforts will all benefit their quality of sleep and mental health. However, the fact that school start times showed a moderating effect on mental health symptoms, suggests that better sleep hygiene combined with later school start times would yield better outcomes.
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