A new meta-analysis published in the scientific journal Sleep Medicine Reviews revealed that teenagers between 12 and 18 years old who sleep more on weekends may have higher levels of anxiety. The research used data from more than 235,000 young people and analyzed 8 previous studies on sleep and anxiety, using established questionnaires that addressed worry, restlessness, and related symptoms.
The researchers identified that this habit of sleeping more on weekends causes the so-called "social jetlag," which is the discrepancy between the teenager's biological clock and the school routine. The phenomenon occurs when there is a large difference between sleep schedules during the week and on weekends, creating a mismatch in the body's natural cycles.
The results demonstrated a clear link between sleep duration and the reporting of anxious symptoms. Teenagers with greater differences between sleep schedules during the week and on weekends were more likely to report higher levels of anxiety, indicating that the greater the variation, the greater the tendency to feel anxious.
The research reinforces scientists' hypothesis that sleep is one of the pillars of teenagers' mental health, highlighting the importance of more regular sleep habits for the emotional well-being of this age group.
