Sleep plays a crucial role in cognitive and emotional functions. He participates in the consolidation of memory, vigilance and emotional stability. A quality sleep also prevents the early appearance of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety or depression. However, adolescents sleep less and less, often well below the 8 to 10 hours of sleep recommended at their age by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), a global reference in the matter.
According to a study of Unisanté in Lausanne, in 2020 in Switzerland, the 14 -year -old children were twelve times more numerous than in 2012 to spend more than four hours a day in front of a screen. This excessive exposure has negative consequences on duration and quality of sleep. The screens shift the bedtime by occupying precious time, but also by stimulating attention and emotions, delaying falling asleep.
If the presence of screens in the room is recognized as an aggravating factor, few studies have so far explored the effects of specific parental rules on sleep. A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) analyzed the responses of 329 students aged 13 to 15 in 2021 in orientation cycles. They had to fulfill a questionnaire on their sleep habits and the rules set by their parents concerning the use of screens.
40 minutes of sleep in addition
It turns out that students subject to the strictest rules (no phone in the room and no use in the evening) sleep significantly longer. On average, the sleep gain reaches 40 minutes per night. “It is considerable, knowing that this age group needs about 9 hours of sleep and often sleeps only 7 to 8. Each week, these 40 minutes represent almost a night of sleep in addition,” said Virginie Sterpenich, researcher in the Department of Fundamental Neurosciences of the Faculty of Medicine of Unige, who led the study published in “Discover Public Health”.
Other types of restrictions, such as limiting the daily duration of screens or fixing an hour of sleeping, do not show any significant effect on the duration of the sleep.
The study does not stop at the duration of the sleep. It also shows that young people who sleep more have better academic results. “Parents therefore have a key role to play. Their involvement directly influences the health and success of their children. They must be encouraged in this sense. This framework must be fixed before 15 years, age beyond which bad habits are more difficult to correct, “specifies Kevin Mammeri, doctoral student in the Department of Fundamental Neurosciences and first author of the study.
Do not navigate on the networks in bed
The next step, already underway in schools, is to offer awareness workshops and concrete tools to students whose sleep is altered. “Many remain with their phone in their bed, without clear distinction between the place where you sleep and the one where you sail on the networks,” notes Virginie Sterpenich. “Changing this habit would be a good step towards healthy sleep”.
