Teens Lacking Sleep More Likely to Suffer Depression

Posted on January 3, 2010 in Health & Medicine, Parenting, Recent Studies

Teens who have a tough time going to bed are more prone to depression and suicidal thoughts, according to a study by researchers at Columbia University.

Teens who went to bed after midnight were 24 percent more likely to be depressed and 20 percent more likely to have contemplated suicide than peers who hit the hay at or before 10 p.m. The researchers recommended that parents set earlier bedtimes as a protective measure.

The study is the first to show that sleep deprivation may cause depression in young adults. Although previous research has made the connection, the link wasn’t clear because insomnia is a symptom of depression.

The researchers studied data from 15,659 U.S. students who were in grades seven to 12 between 1994 and 1996, and their parents. Seven percent of the teens were discovered to have depression, while 13 percent said they seriously considered suicide during the preceding 12 months. The association was stronger for girls and older children, researchers reported.