It’s eleven o’clock on a weeknight, and your teenager has their bedroom lights on. It’s difficult for them to get enough sleep so they can go to school on the next day.
Our Research in progressThis video shows the effects of “night owl” on young teens’ brains and behavior years later.
The risk of developing brain problems in later years of life was increased by this shift in sleeping patterns.
It’s not all bad news, however, for night owls.
Changes in sleep habits
People’s sleep Patterns changeTeenagers can be very active during this time. Teenagers may be able to stay awake longer, go to sleep later, and then lie the next day.
Many teens move away from being a teenager. From a morning lark to night owl. They feel more productive and alert late in the evening.
Teens can experience a shift towards “eveningness” that is disruptive to their school and work schedules. This mismatched sleep schedule can be the reason teens who are night-owls are often at their most tired. greater riskPeople who are morning larks have more behavioral and emotional problems than those who are morning larks.
Research suggests that night owls and morning larks are different. Brain structure. This includes the differences in grey and white matter. These differences have been linked with differences in memory, emotional wellness, attention, and empathy.
This is despite the fact that there are some connections. However, it is not clear how this relationship might develop. Are there any behavioral or emotional problems that night owls are more likely to have? Are there any behavioral and emotional problems that can lead to a night owl becoming more frequent?
This was the study that we did, following teens for many years.
What we did
We asked more than 200 teens and their families to complete questionnaires about their sleep habits and emotional and behavioral wellbeing. These questionnaires were repeated several times by participants over the following seven years.
Two brain scans were also done on the teens, which were performed several years apart. This was to assess their brain development. We focused on mapping changes in the structure of white matter – the brain’s connective tissue that allows our brains to process information and function effectively.
An earlier research has revealed the structure and function of white matter in night owls and morning larks. Different. Our study is however the first to explore how sleep preferences can affect white matter growth over time.
Here are our findings
Early adolescence saw teens become night owls. They were more likely later to suffer from behavioral problems. This led to increased aggression, rule-breaking and antisocial behavior.
However, they were not at an increased risk of emotional problems such as low mood or anxiety.
This relationship didn’t work in the opposite direction. We found that teens who had experienced earlier behavioral and emotional problems did not change their tendency to be more morning larks or night owls in late adolescence.
Our research also found that teens who changed to being night owls experienced a faster rate of brain growth than those who remained morning-larks.
The white matter in night owls was not as high as that of morning larks, according to our research.
We are aware of the growth of white matter It is vitalSupport cognitive, emotional and behavioral development in teenagers.
What are the implications?
These are just a few of the many findings. previous researchThere are differences in brain structure among night owls, morning larks, and night larks. This research builds upon previous research that suggests these changes may emerge. In the teenage years.
It is important to note that we found that the risk of having behavioral problems and delayed brain growth in later adolescence increases if you are a night owl.
These findings emphasize the importance of paying attention to teens’ sleep-wake patterns early in their adolescence, to support their future emotional and behavioral health. It is important to get enough sleep. Very importantBoth mental and brain health.
Here are some great news
This is not all bad news, however, for night owls. Our research has shown that night owl and morning lark preferences can be changed. Research shows that we can change our sleeping habits and preferences.
Exposed to light, even artificial light, can change our circadian rhythms which can affect our sleep preferences. Avoiding late-night exposures to bright lights or screens is one way to minimize your exposure. ModifyOur preferences and motivations for sleeping.
Light exposureIt can help us shift our internal clocks into a more morning-oriented rhythm by getting up early in the morning. Encourage your teenager to have breakfast outdoors, or to go on a balcony or in the garden before going to school or work.
Rebecca Cooper, PhD candidate in neuropsychiatry, The University of Melbourne; Maria Di Biase, Senior Research Fellow, Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne?, and Vanessa CropleySenior Research Fellow The University of Melbourne
This article has been republished from The ConversationUnder a Creative Commons License Please read the Original article.
