Dahl, R. (1999). The consequences of insufficient sleep for adolescents: Links between sleep and emotional regulation, Phi Delta Kappan, 80(5), 354-59. 

More information

Abstract

Research suggests that changes in mood and motivation are among the most important effects of sleep loss, and that sleep loss can lead to the development or exacerbation of behavioral and emotional problems. These issues have enormous ramifications with regard to both the physical and mental health of adolescents and to detriments to effective learning and social development. In this article Dahl provides an overview of current scientific and clinical information regarding the consequences of insufficient sleep in adolescents, paying particular attention to links between sleep and emotional regulation. He discusses sleepiness; tiredness; mood, attention and behavior; the impact of emotional and behavioral problems; and the bidirectional effects between sleep and behavioral/emotional problems. Many forces in adolescent lifestyles converge to push the sleep/arousal balance away from sleep and toward ever-higher arousal, but he asserts that there are tremendous potential benefits to be gained by reversing this pattern in favor of valuing more sleep.

Keywords

Adolescents, Behavior Problems, Emotional Response, High Schools, Mental Health, Sleep, Well Being