Sleep on weekends protects teenagers from depression

A recent study conducted by scientists from the University of Oregon and the State University of New York at Buffalo found that teenagers and young adults who can catch up on sleep during the weekends significantly reduce their risk of developing depression by 41%.
The study involved respondents aged 16 to 24. Those who compensated for sleep deprivation on weekends reported fewer symptoms of depression compared to those who did not pay attention to this on Saturday and Sunday.

The results, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, add new data to the existing evidence of the importance of sleep for the mental health of young people. Teenagers face sleep problems and are at high risk for depression; however, this group has rarely been the subject of such studies.

This study is the first to focus on compensating for sleep deprivation on weekends among American teenagers and young adults. Previous research was mainly conducted among schoolchildren in China and Korea. Many teenagers in the U.S. accumulate sleep debt during the school week, balancing studies, socializing, extracurricular activities, and frequent part-time jobs.

Melinda Kaysment, an associate professor at the University of Oregon and director of the Sleep Laboratory, emphasizes that medical experts have long recommended that teenagers sleep for eight to ten hours at the same time every night. However, Kaysment acknowledges that this is difficult for many young people to achieve.

While a stable sleep schedule of eight to ten hours each night remains ideal, researchers understand that achieving this is challenging. If teenagers cannot follow this schedule during the school week, longer sleep on weekends may help reduce the risk of depressive symptoms.

Kaysment adds that it is normal for teenagers to be "owls," and parents should allow them to sleep longer on weekends if they are sleep-deprived during the week. This can positively affect their mental state.

The researchers analyzed data from participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2021 to 2023. Participants reported their bedtimes and wake-up times on weekdays and weekends. The scientists used this information to assess the amount of compensatory sleep on weekends, comparing the average sleep duration on Saturday and Sunday with weekdays. Participants also reported their emotional state, and those who felt sad or depressed daily were categorized as having depressive symptoms.

Circadian rhythms, which determine biological sleep clocks, naturally change during adolescence. These changes make it difficult to go to bed early, even when young people feel tired. According to Kaysment, teenagers transition from "larks" to "owls," and their bedtime shifts later until around 18-20 years old, after which they begin to go to bed earlier again.

For many teenagers, the optimal sleep time is from 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM, which often conflicts with the early start of classes in U.S. schools. Because of this, many experts and medical professionals support initiatives to push back the start of classes to a later time as a measure to promote public health.

Depression is one of the leading causes of disability among people aged 16 to 24. This means it can lead to disruptions in daily life, such as missed work and difficulties in fulfilling responsibilities. Thus, studying the risk factors for depression in this age group and developing preventive measures becomes extremely important.