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A new study reveals that teenagers who prefer staying up late, often referred to as "night owls," are more likely to exhibit impulsive behavior compared to their early-rising peers. The research, presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) in Seattle, involved 210 adolescents who completed questionnaires on their sleep patterns and impulsivity, provided saliva samples, and wore sleep-tracking devices for a week.
The study, led by Riya Mirchandaney, a doctoral candidate at the University of Pittsburgh, found that teens with a preference for staying up late reported higher levels of negative urgency and a lack of perseverance. These traits led them to act impulsively when experiencing negative emotions and to abandon challenging tasks more readily. Interestingly, the study did not find a link between the teens' biological circadian rhythms and impulsivity, suggesting that psychological or behavioral factors might play a more significant role.
According to HealthDay News, Mirchandaney noted that impulsivity could contribute to issues like alcohol and substance use. She emphasized that adolescence might be an ideal time to implement interventions to help mitigate impulsivity-related risks.
The study's findings highlight the importance of encouraging teens to maintain regular sleep schedules. Parents may help by promoting earlier bedtimes, which could potentially reduce impulsive behaviors linked to staying up late. The research was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Deseret News reports that this research aligns with previous studies, such as one from Sweden in 2019, which found a connection between adolescent sleep problems and impulsive behaviors. These findings suggest that addressing sleep patterns in teenagers could have long-term benefits for their mental health and decision-making abilities.