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. 2022 Dec;8(6):632-639.
doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2022.08.001. Epub 2022 Sep 28.

Adolescent sleep myths: Identifying false beliefs that impact adolescent sleep and well-being

Rebecca Robbins  1 , Dean W Beebe  2 , Kelly C Byars  2 , Michael Grandner  3 , Lauren Hale  4 , Ignacio E Tapia  5 , Amy R Wolfson  6 , Judith A Owens  7
Affiliations

Adolescent sleep myths: Identifying false beliefs that impact adolescent sleep and well-being

Rebecca Robbins et al. Sleep Health. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: Commonly held beliefs about sleep unsupported by scientific evidence (ie, myths) among adolescents and their parents/caregivers may adversely influence sleep-related attitudes and behaviors among adolescents. Thus, identifying such myths with the goal of developing effective evidence-based counter-messages has the potential to improve sleep health in adolescents.

Method: We identified myths with a panel of adolescent sleep health experts (n = 12) using the Delphi method in three sequential steps: (1) focus groups; (2) online discussion; and (3) closed-ended questionnaires with which the experts rated myths on: (1) falseness and (2) public health significance using 5-point Likert scales ranging from 1 (not at all false/important for public health) to 5 (extremely false/important for public health). Next, we explored the prevalence of the myths among a demographically diverse sample of parents/caregivers of adolescents in the United States. Finally, we report the counterevidence to refute each myth.

Results: Ten myths about adolescent sleep were identified by the experts using the Delphi method. The most prevalent myths were the beliefs that (1) "Going to bed and waking up late on the weekends is no big deal for adolescents, as long as they get enough sleep during that time," reported by 74% of parents/caregivers; (2) "If school starts later, adolescents will stay up that much later," reported by 69% of parents/caregivers; and (3) "Melatonin supplements are safe for adolescents because they are natural," reported by 66% of parents/caregivers.

Conclusion: Parents/caregivers have the potential to serve as sleep health advocates for their adolescent and support their adolescent's sleep health behaviors. Our study found that many parents/caregivers endorse myths about adolescent sleep that may hinder their ability to support their adolescent's sleep health. Future research may explore methods for promoting evidence-based beliefs about adolescent sleep among parents/caregivers.

Keywords: Adolescent health; Sleep health; Sleep myths; Terms: Sleep.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Flowchart outlining the Delphi method of obtaining expert consensus for a list of adolescent sleep myths.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Responses from parents/caregivers regarding myths about adolescent sleep (n = 200). Notes. Dark blue represents those that responded either “somewhat disagree” or “strongly disagree” with each myth. Light blue represents those that reported either “neutral,” “somewhat agree,” or “strongly agree” with each myth.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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