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Sleep deprivation makes Scots teenage girls' anxiety worse | Sleep deprivation makes Scots teenage girls' anxiety worse |
(32 minutes later) | |
Sleep deprivation is exacerbating mental health problems among teenage girls in Scotland, experts have said. | Sleep deprivation is exacerbating mental health problems among teenage girls in Scotland, experts have said. |
Research has shown almost a third of young people experience problems nodding off which has a negative impact on both mental and physical health. | Research has shown almost a third of young people experience problems nodding off which has a negative impact on both mental and physical health. |
But girls age 15 and over in particular are experiencing high levels of pressure in their lives which has contributed to anxiety and nervousness. | But girls age 15 and over in particular are experiencing high levels of pressure in their lives which has contributed to anxiety and nervousness. |
Leaders of the recent study said the picture is complex. | Leaders of the recent study said the picture is complex. |
The research, led by Glasgow University and commissioned by NHS Health Scotland, surveyed school-age children in 2018. It found that the proportion of young people reporting sleep difficulties more than once a week increased from 23% in 2014 to 30% in 2018. | |
Some areas of wellbeing did show improvement - such as a reduction in substance, alcohol and tobacco use as well as healthier eating habits and 85% reporting high life satisfaction. | Some areas of wellbeing did show improvement - such as a reduction in substance, alcohol and tobacco use as well as healthier eating habits and 85% reporting high life satisfaction. |
However, researchers found that just over a third (37%) of adolescents were classified as having low mood (33% boys, 41% girls) and 14% were at risk of depression (11% boys, 17% girls). | |
Lead author of the study Dr Jo Inchley, from Glasgow University, said a number of factors could influence mental health, including social media, but that sleep was significantly important for physical and mental wellbeing. | |
She told BBC Scotland: "There is a range of issues there that we need to understand better and provide support for young people - girls in particular. | She told BBC Scotland: "There is a range of issues there that we need to understand better and provide support for young people - girls in particular. |
"When we speak to young people what we do find is a lot of older girls reporting high levels of pressure from schoolwork but also things in their lives - managing their friendships, managing their relationships at home, thinking about their future careers, thinking about their body image and their health. | "When we speak to young people what we do find is a lot of older girls reporting high levels of pressure from schoolwork but also things in their lives - managing their friendships, managing their relationships at home, thinking about their future careers, thinking about their body image and their health. |
"So all these things may be contributing to higher levels of anxiety and feelings of nervousness that we see in our research." | "So all these things may be contributing to higher levels of anxiety and feelings of nervousness that we see in our research." |
Turning to fathers for help | Turning to fathers for help |
Previous studies have linked sleep problems among adolescents to electronic devices and social media. | Previous studies have linked sleep problems among adolescents to electronic devices and social media. |
And while the latest research had similar findings, Dr Inchley said it showed children reporting more support from their families in some cases - specifically girls feeling able to talk to their fathers about problems. | And while the latest research had similar findings, Dr Inchley said it showed children reporting more support from their families in some cases - specifically girls feeling able to talk to their fathers about problems. |
Meanwhile, Dr Justin Williams of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Scotland said that affluence and supportive families were an "important source of resilience". | |
He said: "The increasingly rich media diet offered to our young people today often causes problems because they consume too much or consume the wrong stuff. | He said: "The increasingly rich media diet offered to our young people today often causes problems because they consume too much or consume the wrong stuff. |
"It can displace family life, physical activity and even just sleep. And some young people, especially those with mental health problems, are highly vulnerable to these negative effects." | "It can displace family life, physical activity and even just sleep. And some young people, especially those with mental health problems, are highly vulnerable to these negative effects." |
Dr Rory Mitchell, public health intelligence principal at NHS Health Scotland, which funded the study, highlighted that children from wealthier families tended to report better health and wellbeing. | Dr Rory Mitchell, public health intelligence principal at NHS Health Scotland, which funded the study, highlighted that children from wealthier families tended to report better health and wellbeing. |
He said there was a need for "a continued focus on tackling health inequalities in Scotland." | He said there was a need for "a continued focus on tackling health inequalities in Scotland." |
Key figures | Key figures |
The 2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children involved 5,286 pupils, covered areas such as sleeping habits, time spent online, physical activity and school and home life. | The 2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children involved 5,286 pupils, covered areas such as sleeping habits, time spent online, physical activity and school and home life. |
Data was collected from surveys with 11, 13 and 15-year-olds in Scotland. | Data was collected from surveys with 11, 13 and 15-year-olds in Scotland. |
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