Teens with late sleep timing report more attention and mood problems

This study surveyed 9338 Norwegian adolescents aged 16 to 19 (mean age 17.0; 53.5% girls). It was a general population sample, not a group of people with ADHD. A small share fit a delayed sleep phase (3.3%). They fell asleep and woke at least an hour later on weekends, struggled to fall asleep, and overslept at least sometimes. This was based on survey answers, not a clinical diagnosis.

Teens with a delayed sleep phase reported more depression, anxiety and ADHD symptoms than other teens. The largest gap was in trouble paying attention, a moderate to large difference. They also scored lower on resilience. The groups did not differ on obsessive-compulsive behaviors or perfectionism.

Inattention scores in the top tenth were more common in the delayed sleep group (20.7%). Among other teens the share was lower (8.1%). After accounting for other factors, delayed sleep was still linked with inattention, hyperactivity, lack of personal structure, parents not living together, a father with low or high education, and poorer family finances. Depression and anxiety were not.

The survey looked at one point in time, so it cannot show cause. Sleep and mental health were self-reported. Only about half of those invited took part (53%), which likely led to underestimating how common these problems were.

The authors suggest that teens with this sleep pattern warrant a careful diagnostic evaluation, and that families be included in interventions.