A recent study by Penn State University highlights the importance of sleep in childhood and its potential impact on future substance use. Researchers have discovered that children who go to bed later and get less sleep are more likely to consume alcohol or marijuana by age 15.
The research, published in Annals of Epidemiology, analyzed data from 1,514 children across 20 U.S. cities. The study focused on sleep duration and bedtime at various developmental stages.
Data was collected from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, where parents recorded their children’s bedtimes at ages 3, 5, and 9, and their sleep duration at ages 5 and 9.
The findings reveal that children who went to bed later at age 9 were 45% more likely to try alcohol by age 15. Bedtimes at age 5 did not show a significant link to future alcohol use, nor did sleep duration at either age.
Additionally, a later bedtime at age 5 was associated with a 26% increased likelihood of using marijuana by age 15. Children who slept an hour less at age 9 had a 19% higher chance of trying marijuana during adolescence.
At age 15, teens reported their bedtimes, sleep durations, and substance use. The data showed that those with later bedtimes had a 39% higher chance of drinking alcohol and a 34% higher chance of using marijuana. Teens who slept one hour less increased their odds of drinking alcohol by 28%, but there was no significant link to marijuana use.
David A. Reichenberger, PhD, a study co-author from Penn State’s Department of Biobehavioral Health, emphasized the importance of the study’s complete data set, which allowed for an assessment of effects over time within the same group of children. He noted that adequate and high-quality sleep could play a crucial role in preventing substance use and promoting long-term health.
Dr. Wendy Troxel, a senior behavioral and social scientist at RAND Corporation, underscored that this study adds to growing evidence linking sleep issues to risky health behaviors. She highlighted that sleep problems in earlier life could predict substance use during adolescence—a key period for the development of drug and alcohol use.
Troxel suggested that addressing sleep issues through family-based programs and public policies, such as later school start times, is essential for promoting healthy sleep habits in children and adolescents.
