Sleep: Adolescent Perspectives and Experiences

Sleep is necessary for human functioning and development.

Research into adolescent sleep is diverse, and there is much yet to be delineated about processes and outcomes relating to this with regard to the foci of educational psychology.

The thesis presented here examines issues on this topic.

A systematic literature review assesses the impact of reduced sleep on cognitive and learning skills required for academic performance in school for typically developing adolescents.

It examined correlational and experimental data for participants ranging from 11-19 years.

The findings were mixed, with some evidence found that reduced sleep has a negative impact on school performance and the cognitive skills necessary for it.

Inconsistent study methodology and a lack of statistical power limited the conclusions that can be drawn.

The primary empirical research examines the sleep needs, perspectives and experiences of secondary-aged adolescents who have been excluded from mainstream education.

Semi-structured interviews with nine young people were analysed using thematic analysis.

Quantitative data about sleep duration, symptoms of inadequate sleep and sleep hygiene behaviours was gathered for seven of the participants.

Analysis of the interview data identified five themes, each with between one and five subthemes.

The themes covered the young peoples' sleep patterns and sleep difficulties, their beliefs and perceptions about the relevance of sleep for success and wellbeing, their experience of having limited control over and limited knowledge about sleep factors, the relevance of family and their use of technology generally as well as its facilitating and hindering role for sleep.

Quantitative data indicated that some of the young people interviewed had symptoms of inadequate sleep and most of them had poor sleep hygiene behaviours.

Implications for educational psychology practice are addressed. Evidence-based practice and the dissemination and impact of research is discussed.