Newswise — Insomnia, found to be prevalent among teens, appears to increase the risks of ADHD-like symptoms, psychiatric disorders and other health problems, according to a study by researchers at RTI International.
"We found insomnia to be common and chronic among adolescents," said Eric Johnson, Ph.D, RTI's principal researcher for the study. "That's a significant concern. Insomnia isn't just about a lack of sleep; it reduces teens' cognitive function and performance and indicates an increased risk for depression and substance abuse."
The research funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health and published in the February issue of the journal Pediatrics is one of the first studies of the lifetime prevalence of insomnia among adolescents.
Almost 11 percent of the more than 1,000 13- to 16-year-olds studied suffered from insomnia, with the onset typically starting around 11 years of age.
According to the authors, the prevalence of insomnia in teens combined with an increased need for sleep and the other physical, social and emotional changes that accompany puberty pose a significant threat to adolescent health and well-being.
"As adults and parents we often don't understand teenagers' propensity to stay up late and sleep until afternoon or for sleeping longer than adults," Johnson said. "It's not because they're lazy. Adolescents actually require more sleep than children or adults, and without it they are at risk of serious health effects."
After beginning menstruation, girls were found to be more than twice as likely as boys to develop insomnia, which parallels a higher prevalence of insomnia in adult women compared to adult men.
The majority of teens, 88 percent, who reported having ever suffered from insomnia continued to suffer from symptoms of insomnia at the time of the study, signaling a potentially chronic disorder.
The study also found that more than half of the teens who suffered from insomnia also suffered from a psychiatric disorder.
"Given the high prevalence of insomnia among adolescents and its impact on daytime functioning and increased risk for the onset of other psychiatric disorders, we may need to rethink how we respond to the needs of teens and the schedules we set for them," Johnson said. "Treatment and prevention of insomnia need to be important priorities in adolescent health."
About RTI International RTI International, the nation's second largest independent nonprofit research organization, is dedicated to conducting research and development that improves the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. RTI has more than 2,500 staff members who work in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, eight regional offices in the United States, and five international offices. These dedicated professionals offer innovative research and technical services to governments and businesses worldwide in the areas of health and pharmaceuticals, education and training, surveys and statistics, advanced technology, governance, economic and social development, energy, and the environment. For more information, please visit us at http://www.rti.org.
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