Relationship between sleep habits, quality, chronotype and depression in Swedish adolescents

What is it about?

This study looked at the relationship between different self-reported parameters of sleep and depression among middle school students in Sweden. Nearly half of the students slept less than the recommended eight hours per night on school days. The study revealed that short sleep duration on school days, poor sleep quality, and a biological tendency to go to bed at later times (late chronotype) were associated with an increased risk of depression.

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Photo by Kinga Howard on Unsplash

Photo by Kinga Howard on Unsplash

Why is it important?

There is a great need for efforts promoting sleep among adolescents to prevent negative consequences for their health and development. The study points to the benefit of integrating knowledge about sleep and promoting healthy sleep habits into programs for the promotion of mental health among adolescents as well as to consider structural interventions such as delaying school start times.