Associations among sleep problems, learning difficulties and substance use in adolescence

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships among sleep problems, learning difficulties and substance use in adolescence. Previous research suggests that these variables share an association with executive functioning deficits, and are intertwined. The sample comprised 427 adolescents (M age = 16 years) attending remedial schools and 276 adolescents (M age = 15 years) attending a mainstream school in Cape Town, South Africa. Participants completed anonymous self‐report questionnaires. Results indicated that adolescents without learning difficulties were more likely to use tobacco, methamphetamine and cannabis, whereas those with learning difficulties engaged in more inhalant use. Adolescents who had more sleep problems were more likely to use tobacco, alcohol, methamphetamine, cannabis, inhalants, cocaine, ecstasy and any other illegal drug. Adolescents with learning difficulties had more sleep problems than those without learning difficulties. However, sleep problems remained independently associated with tobacco, cannabis and inhalant use when learning difficulties were taken into account.

Drug use in adolescents with mild intellectual disability in different living arrangements

“…Previous research found a lower prevalence of smoking among individuals with ID than in the general population (Fakier & Wild, 2011;Gress & Boss, 1996;McGillicuddy & Blane, 1999;McGuire et al, 2007;Rimmer et al, 1995;Robertson et al, 2000;Rurangirwa et al, 2006;Taylor et al, 2004). In contrast, Emerson and Turnbull (2005) found that the prevalence of smoking was higher among adolescents with ID.…”

“…The findings of a Taiwanese study by Yen and Lin (2010) indicated that 3.4% of adolescents with ID had experienced smoking and 1.4% had smoked regularly. In a South African study 59.5% of adolescents with ID reported ever having smoked a whole cigarette (Fakier & Wild, 2011).…”

Sleep and Drug Abuse during Adolescence

“…Despite having a smaller sample than the previously presented studies (703 South African adolescents between 13 and 20 years old), the study conducted by Fakier and Wild [24] deserves attention for its greater care with regard to data acquisition. In that case, sleep disorders were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist.…”

“…However, chronic sleep deficits, excessive daytime sleepiness, and self-medication create a vicious cycle in which one factor exacerbates the next [2]. Despite the absence of acute effects, substances such as alcohol and nicotine can lead to chronic sleep and attention impairments as well as learning difficulties [24]. The use of tobacco, alcohol, and hypnogenic drugs (i.e., sleeping pills, including benzodiazepines and even herbal drugs) is common among self-medicators [21,62].…”

Inhalants

“…Short-term use of inhalants may result in CNS dysfunction without pronounced changes in anatomical structure. However, memory impairment (Huerta-Rivas et al, 2012;Win-Shwe and Fujimaki, 2012), sleep disturbances (Alfaro-Rodriguez et al, 2011;Fakier and Wild, 2011), visual, and optical changes (Lomax et al, 2004) have also been reported following acute inhalant exposure.…”