Adolescent Sleep: Review of Characteristics, Consequences, and Intervention

Adolescent Sleep: Review of Characteristics, Consequences, and Intervention

Inadequate sleep is a pervasive problem among adolescents. This paper reviews the characteristics of adolescent sleep patterns, the negative consequences of poor sleep, and the interventions that target disrupted sleep among adolescents. Review of the literature suggests that systematic assessment and implementation of outpatient and school-based interventions are infrequent for this population, and in general provide mixed findings with regard to improvement of overall sleep quality. Existing barriers for implementation of intervention are discussed, and suggestions for improving interventions via inclusion of motivational interviewing techniques, skills building, and “hands-on” approaches through group activities are provided.