Sleep-Deprived Teens in Riskier Behavior - US Study

In a new study of more than 12,000 US teens, CDC researchers found that 68.9 percent reported getting less than eight hours of sleep on an average school night, and these youths were more likely to take part in risky activities than peers who reported sleeping more than eight hours.

The sleep-deprived teens were more likely to be sexually active, fight, contemplate suicide, smoke cigarettes and marijuana, drink alcohol, and use a computer for more than three hours daily. They were also less likely to exercise; however, they did not watch more TV than youths who got more sleep.

The study, “Relationships Between Hours of Sleep and Health-Risk Behaviors in US Adolescent Students,” was published online in the journal Preventive Medicine (08.05.11).

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