Penn State Research Reveals Connection Between Sleep and Teen Alcohol and Marijuana Use
A new study led by Penn State researchers has uncovered a significant link between childhood sleep patterns and future substance use. The research, published in Annals of Epidemiology, suggests that children who go to bed later and sleep fewer hours during childhood and adolescence are more likely to have consumed alcohol or tried marijuana by age 15.
Anne-Marie Chang, associate professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State and senior author of the paper, emphasizes the potential for intervention: “If we improve sleep in the school-age population, not only could that show improvements in sleep health but in other aspects like the decision to engage in risky behaviors like alcohol and other substance use.”
Key findings from the study include:
1. Teens were 45% more likely to try alcohol by age 15 if they had a later bedtime at age nine.
2. Later bedtime at age five was associated with 26% increased odds of trying marijuana by age 15.
3. Sleeping an hour less at age nine was associated with 19% increased odds of trying marijuana by age 15.
4. At age 15, teens with later bedtimes had a 39% greater chance of drinking alcohol and a 34% greater chance of trying marijuana.
Implications for Child Development and Health
The research team, which included David Reichenberger, co-lead author, explored childhood sleep at different developmental stages within the same sample of children. They focused on two facets of sleep health: total duration of sleep and bedtime.
“Sleep is multifaceted. It’s important for children because it helps with growth and development. The brain is more plastic during younger ages and you want healthy sleep to support neural development,” Reichenberger explained. He added that poor sleep health could have downstream effects on physical health and decision-making, potentially influencing substance use choices.
The study drew on data from 1,514 children in the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a diverse longitudinal birth cohort from 20 U.S. cities. Parents reported their child’s regular weekday bedtime and sleep duration at various ages, while 15-year-olds self-reported their sleep patterns and substance use.
Why it matters: This research highlights the critical role of sleep in long-term health and wellbeing, particularly during crucial developmental stages. The findings suggest that sleep patterns closer to adolescence are most crucial in terms of future substance use risk, as this is when children are rapidly changing and their brains are maturing.
The study’s results emphasize the importance of creating sleep-conducive environments and establishing age-appropriate bedtimes for school-age children. These practices could potentially serve as preventive measures against future substance use.
Chang underscores the broader implications of this research: “Exploring the connection between sleep and substance use is a critical area of research because we continue to struggle with an epidemic of opioid addiction and substance use. It’s an important area to continue to research and to disseminate our findings to the broader population, families and health care professionals.”
As the research community continues to investigate the complex relationships between sleep, development, and substance use, these findings provide valuable insights for parents, educators, and healthcare professionals. By prioritizing healthy sleep habits in childhood and adolescence, we may be able to reduce the risk of substance use and promote overall wellbeing in young people.
The study, supported by funding from various national institutes and private foundations, represents an important step forward in understanding the long-term impacts of childhood sleep patterns on health and behavior.
