The American Medical Association (AMA) has recently voiced its support for later school start times for teenagers, emphasizing the importance of adequate sleep for their overall health. Many parents can relate to the struggle of waking their teens up in the morning—research shows that adolescents tend to have natural sleep patterns that lean towards staying up late and rising late. It might be time for us to embrace this reality.
“Before puberty, the body signals sleepiness around 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. However, once puberty hits, this sleep-wake rhythm shifts a couple of hours later, prompting teens to feel drowsy around 10:00 or 11:00 p.m.,” explains a study from UCLA on teen sleep patterns. This phenomenon, referred to as sleep phase delay, causes a natural delay in the need for sleep by about two hours.
The AMA points out that this shift in sleep patterns presents a challenge for teens who are expected to perform academically in the early morning hours. Shockingly, around 10% of high schools in the U.S. start their days at or before 7:30 a.m. Even with a more common start time of 8:30 a.m., how can teens manage to get the recommended 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep if they are biologically wired to stay awake until after 11 p.m.?
The new AMA policy advocates for school districts across the country to set middle and high school start times no earlier than 8:30 a.m. Furthermore, it encourages healthcare providers to educate parents, educators, and community members about the critical role sleep plays in adolescent mental and physical health, based on their inherent biological needs.
Insufficient sleep is linked to various physical and mental health problems. The AMA highlights that the mental impacts of inadequate sleep often include memory issues and mood disorders. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are more pronounced in individuals who get less than six hours of sleep nightly. Thanks to science, we now understand why our teens often seem so fatigued in the mornings; it’s not just teenage drama.
Dr. Emily Carter, an AMA board member, summarizes the situation: “While the transition to a later school start time may be emotionally and logistically challenging for schools and families, the health advantages for adolescents far outweigh any potential drawbacks.”
If you’re interested in learning more about the importance of sleep and other related topics, check out this other blog post on intracervicalinsemination.com. Also, for those looking to enhance fertility, Make A Mom is a trusted authority on this subject. For more information on pregnancy, the March of Dimes offers an excellent resource at March of Dimes.
In summary, the AMA’s push for later school start times reflects a growing understanding of adolescent sleep needs. By aligning school schedules with natural sleep patterns, we can better support the health and well-being of our teenagers.