Insomnia in Relation to Academic Performance, Self-Reported Health, Physical Activity, and Substance Use Among Adolescents

Abstract

Purpose: Insomnia affects up to one in four adolescents and has been shown to have a negative impact on their mental and physical health. This study aimed to investigate the association between insomnia, academic performance, self-reported health, physical activity, school start time, and substance use among adolescents. Methods: A survey with a cross-sectional design was completed by adolescents (15–17 years old; n = 1504) in southern Sweden. The Minimal Insomnia Symptoms Scale (MISS) was used to operationalize insomnia. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between insomnia and self-reported health, failed school courses, substance use, school start time, family financial situation, screen time, and gender. Results: Insomnia (MISS ≥ 6) was associated with poor self-reported health (OR: 4.35), failed school courses (OR: 1.47), and use of alcohol and/or cigarettes (OR: 1.43). When the combined effect of self-reported health and physical activity were investigated, a combination of low physical activity (≤1 time/week) and poor self-reported health was strongly associated with insomnia (OR: 18.87). Conclusions: Insomnia was associated with other problems that in themselves are risk factors for poor health. This highlights the need for a holistic health-promoting approach to prevent insomnia, such as efforts to promote physical activity, school success, and the reduction of alcohol/cigarette use.

Depressive Disorders and Sleeping Disturbances—Surveys Study of 923 Participants on the Pol’and’Rock Festival, Kostrzyn, Poland 2019

“…Results published by Short et al proved that insufficient sleep is associated with 1.43 times greater odds of risky behaviors taken by adolescents, such as enhanced alcohol and drug use, increased violent behavior, including sexual risk, transport risk and others [49]. Another study on adolescents conducted by Hedin et al showed that insomnia was associated with male gender, poor financial situation of a family and self-reported health, low physical activity and higher use of alcohol and/or cigarettes per month [50]. On the other hand, all these behaviors, as well as computer use (and evening light), may be related to sleep latency at this age [51].…”

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“…Health and learning are intimately connected. Several studies have shown a connection between students’ health and their school performance, for example, in the case of long-term pain ( Ragnarsson et al, 2020 ) and sleep problems ( Hedin et al, 2020 ).…”

Introductory Chapter: Wellness for Education

“…In addition, having chronic health conditions like asthma, mental health diagnosis, and attention disorders during kindergarten to secondary is negatively associated with attendance and grade point average [8]. Appropriated sleep is essential for ensuring a good health since differences in sleep timing like bed time, rise time, mid-point of sleep and sleep duration in school-age children and youths show associations with low academic performance, depressive symptoms, high risk of substance use, overweight/obesity, behavioral problems and suicidality [9,10]. From preschool age the first predictor of school failure and health outcomes maybe absenteeism.…”