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News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

The By Parents For Parents Blog is regularly updated with the latest news and information on topics that relate to parenting teenagers. We'll post parenting advice and tips from trusted online news sources and expert parenting columns.

We invite you to add your comments. Please let us know if you would like some specific topics covered, want to share your experience as a parent dealing with teens, or just have general feedback on the By Parents For Parents Blog.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Cell Phones Disrupt Teens' Sleep

A study by European researchers has found that excessive cell phone use can inhibit a teen's ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. The study reviewed cell phone usage and sleep patterns of 21 healthy teens, ages 14 to 20.

"Results showed that compared with light cell phone users, teens who were heavy users had a harder time getting up in the morning... woke up more often during the night, spent more time tossing and turning before falling asleep..."

Researchers were surprised to find no difference in mental states, depression, and anxiety between heavy and light cell phone users. Still, the study's results highlight the importance of structured and reasonable cell phone usage. Source: CBS News

Learn more: The Latest Teen Obsession: Is Your Child a Cell Phone Junkie?

Labels: cell_phones, sleep_deprivation

posted by ByParents-forParents at 8:05 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Later Starts Mean Extra Sleep for High School Students

When high schools start their school day later students get more sleep, and that's a good thing, according to a new study from Norwalk Hospital Sleep Disorder Center in Connecticut.

Researchers followed 259 students whose starting time changed from 7:35 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Students used the time to sleep an extra half hour in the mornings, but did not change their bedtimes, which averaged around 11 p.m.

Previous studies have shown that increased sleep is linked to better grades and motivation, less emotional disturbance, and even reductions in ADHD symptoms. However, this does not mean that lack of sleep causes those conditions.

Author Mary O'Malley presented this study at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

Labels: school, sleep_deprivation

posted by ByParents-forParents at 4:59 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Junk Sleep

It's a strange phrase: "junk sleep". Much like the phrase "junk food" refers to foods that have little or no nutritional value, "junk sleep" refers to sleep patterns that offer little or no actual rest. These patterns are becoming increasingly common among teenagers who never fully unplug from their technology-laden worlds.

"In a 2006 poll by the National Sleep Foundation, 97 percent of teens said they have at least one electronic item, such as a TV, computer, phone or music device in their rooms. On average, sixth-graders reported having more than two gadgets in their room, while high-school seniors said they had four. In the survey, teens with four or more devices in their bedrooms were more likely to get insufficient sleep."

When Chris and Patti Calawerts realized that technology was interfering with their daughter Stephanie's sleep, they took action. The cell phone went off at 9p.m. and both the TV and computer were removed from her room. Though she protested at first, she now says she's glad to no longer feel "dependent on technology." Read more at GreenBayPressGazette.com.

Read more on how Technology Takes its Toll on Teen Sleep.

Labels: sleep_deprivation, technology, teen_culture

posted by ByParents-forParents at 5:23 PM 0 comments

Friday, February 15, 2008

Insomnia Common Among Teens

About 14% of teens have symptoms of chronic insomnia, and 46% experience at least some symptoms, according to a study from the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston. Researchers collected data from over 4000 youths ages 11 to 17, and then followed up on them a year later.

"Our data suggest that burden of insomnia is comparable to that of other major psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse," said Dr. Robert E. Roberts, professor of behavioral sciences. He suggests that teens should have about nine hours of sleep per night, and those with insomnia should be treated by their physicians.

Learm more on how Technology Takes its Toll on Teen Sleep.

Labels: depression, mental_health, sleep_deprivation

posted by ByParents-forParents at 10:12 AM 2 comments

Monday, February 04, 2008

Cell Phones Linked to Insomnia and Sleep Disorders

Cell phone use is linked to headaches, insomnia and confusion, according to a report in the British journal, The Independent.

Scientists asked 70 people to talk on their cell phones before they went to bed and found that such usage shortened the stages of deep sleep. The study also linked such sleep disturbances to depression, mood swings, ADHD symptoms and personality changes in teenagers.

"This study strongly suggests that mobile phone use is associated with specific changes in the areas of the brain responsible for activating and coordinating the stress system," according to the report.

Last week the Federal Drug Administration called for more scientific studies of the long-range effects of cell phone use on health, especially since more people are using the phones at very young ages.

Looking for programs for troubled teens? Aspen Ranch offers animal assisted therapy and other ways to help troubled teens.

Labels: cell_phones, research, sleep_deprivation

posted by ByParents-forParents at 3:40 PM 0 comments

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Sleep Deprivation Can Cause Psychiatric Symptoms in Teens

Is your teen moody? Does he have a temper? Does she fly off the handle? Blame sleep deprivation, say researchers at Harvard Medical School and University of California/Berkeley.

Most people believe that not getting enough sleep makes people sleepy and lethargic. However, sleep deprivation actually activates the brain's emotional centers most closely associated with psychiatric disorders such as depression.

Professor Mary Carskadon of Brown University said the new study might have implications for adolescents, who are being diagnosed with depression in increasing numbers.

"We don't know if early sleep deprivation projects out to things like major depressive disorder or bipolar illness and whether we're setting our kids up for these major problems as they grow up," she said.

The Berkeley/Harvard study appears in the October 23, 2007 issue of Current Biology.

Mount Bachelor Academy troubled teen boarding schools offers hope for families. Learn how they can help yours today at www.mtba.com.

Labels: depression, development, sleep_deprivation

posted by ByParents-forParents at 7:14 PM 0 comments

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Caffeine and Technology Keeps Teens Awake at Night

Two studies of teenagers' sleeping habits indicate that 45% are getting less than the optimal nine hours a night, and 30% sleep less than seven hours.

One study links loss of sleep to the use of caffeinated beverages. Another links it to having computers, television and other technology in a teen's bedroom.

Researchers at the University of Alabama found that teens who drink caffeinated beverages get less sleep than those who do not. About 75% of teens drink at least one caffeinated drink a day. Professor Beverly Sedlacek said that teens use the beverages to get by on less sleep, and "getting by" is not as healthy as getting adequate sleep.

A study of 1000 British teens found that many teens fall asleep watching television, listening to music, or using the computer. This produces "junk sleep" that is not as rejuvenating as normal sleep, according to The Sleep Council of Great Britain. The Council reported that technology is "exaggerating night-owlism in teenagers," and recommended that parents enforce "turn-off" times.

A private high school, like Mount Bachelor Academy in Oregon, uses a very structured environment to make sure students get the rest they need to perform their best during the day.

Labels: health, influences, sleep_deprivation

posted by ByParents-forParents at 11:50 AM 0 comments

Monday, June 04, 2007

Raising Night Owls

Staying up late and getting up early seems to be a rite of passage for teenagers. But most scientists and those in the medical community agree that adolescents actually need more sleep, not less. Ideally, teens should get eight to ten hours of sleep a night. But if they have to get up at 6:30am for school, that means they should be in bed by 9:30 or 10pm at the latest. Not likely, right?

"What can a parent do to help their teen stay rested? It seems the ideal scenario would be to allow your teen to do nothing - as if! Instead, help your teen take a look at his or her schedule and see how sleep can be fit in to cut down on incidence of sleep deprivation. Since energy levels usually dim in the afternoon, instead of coming home and plopping down on the computer for an hour to "chat" with friends, encourage your teenager to put up an away message and take a nap."

Though you may not set a strict bedtime for your teen, consider having a "room curfew" that requires your teen to be in his or her room at a certain time. Encourage quite activities (no TV, video games, or computers) after a certain time of night to help your teen begin to wind down.

Read more at TeenagersToday.com.

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Labels: curfews, sleep_deprivation, teenagers

posted by ByParents-forParents at 8:32 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Late Night Text'ing Adding to Sleep Deprivation

Staying up late or wanting to stay up later, is natural for teens. But recent studies have found that some teens are staying so late so often that they're at risk of sleep deprivation. The cause? Text messages.

"Nearly a quarter of teens in a relationship have communicated with a boyfriend or girlfriend hourly between midnight and 5 a.m. via cell phone or texting, according to a recent online survey by Teenage Research Unlimited. One in six communicated 10 or more times an hour through the night."

Because text messages are sent and received via cell phones, teenagers can do it without their parents ever knowing. Because so many teens have busy lives, late night texting is often the only way they can are able to catch up with their friends. Still, many cell phone service providers encourage parents to be aware of, and limit, the amount of time their teens spend texting. Read more online.

Labels: cell_phones, sleep_deprivation, text_messaging

posted by ByParents-forParents at 12:41 PM 0 comments

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