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June 14, 2009
Research suggests technology, caffeine may be linked to sleep problems in teens
HealthDay (5/28, Gordon) reported, "Just one in five teens is getting the recommended eight hours of sleep each night," according to research published in Pediatrics suggesting that "highly-caffeinated energy drinks" and technology may be to blame.
Researchers from Drexel University found that "the average sixth-grader has two [electronic] devices in the bedroom," and "by 12th grade," that number increases to four.
The investigators, including lead author Christina Calamaro, PhD, CRNP, "recruited 100 teens...to assess their technology and caffeine use, as well as their sleeping habits." The study found that "15 percent...said they only slept three to five hours per night, while 62 percent reported getting six to eight hours nightly." According to the investigators, "while sleep duration decreased, the amount of technology in adolescents' bedrooms increased."
The authors also found that just "27.5 percent of the teens drank less than 100 milligrams of caffeine daily." Participants "often got the bulk of their caffeine dose after 3 p.m., which Calamaro said could definitely disrupt sleep."
Posted by admin at June 14, 2009 12:28 PM