A new study published in Annals of Epidemiology examined the effects of childhood sleep patterns on future substance use. The findings indicated a connection between later bedtimes and less sleep with an increased likelihood of experimenting with cannabis by the age of 15. The study showed that sleep can be a target for intervention at certain critical ages.
The researchers analyzed data from 1,514 children in the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Parents completed surveys that evaluated their child's regular weekday bedtime at ages three, five, and nine and reported their child's sleep duration at ages five and nine. The study found that adolescents with later bedtime hours and who slept fewer hours during childhood and adolescence were more likely to have tried alcohol or cannabis by age 15.
One finding pointed to a longitudinal association between childhood bedtime and sleep duration with teen alcohol and cannabis use. Teenagers were 45% more likely to try alcohol by age 15 if they had a later bedtime at age nine when compared to other nine-year-olds with an earlier bedtime.
Another finding showed that later bedtime at age five was associated with 26% increased odds of trying cannabis by age 15. Sleeping an hour less at age nine was associated with 19% increased odds of trying cannabis by age 15.
Additional analysis of self-reported data regarding bedtime, sleep duration, and alcohol and cannabis from adolescents at age 15 revealed that teens with a later bedtime had a 39% greater chance of trying alcohol and a 34% greater chance of trying cannabis. Sleeping one hour less was associated with 28% increased odds of ever trying alcohol but wasn't associated with cannabis use.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that teens sleep 8–10 hours per night. Healthcare professionals advocate for ensuring youth get sufficient sleep. Young people's sleep patterns significantly influence a teen's mental and physical wellness.
Sources: American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Annals of Epidemiology, Science Daily