Poor Sleeping Habits During Adolescence Linked to Risky Behavior

A new study revealed that teens who are not able to sleep properly are prone to developing risky behaviors, according to RTT News.

One theory suggests that insufficient sleep can impair people's judgment, which can cause them to engage in regrettable activities.

For the study, researchers collected information from over 6,500 teens in the United States regarding their sleeping habits and social activities. The researchers monitored the participants from 1994 to 2002.

After analyzing the collected data, the researchers discovered that a number of the participants who had a hard time falling asleep once a week engaged in excessive drinking and sexual activities.

As for the teens who couldn't sleep properly almost every day, their chance of participating in risky activities was 33 percent higher than those who slept soundly on a regular basis, BBC reported.

The researchers warned that if this trend among teens continues, they will be more prone take on more dangerous activities such as drug abuse.

Dr. Neil Stanley, who was not part of the study but an expert on sleep research, explained that the effects of insufficient sleep can affect a person's mental process and his or her ability to make rational decisions.

"Even without a medical condition such as insomnia, many teenagers get less sleep than they need each night just because life - computers etc - getting in the way," he told BBC. "But this study builds on previous research that shows a lack of sleep can seriously impair judgment."

Lead author Maria Wong of the Idaho State University said that the study highlights the importance of getting enough sleep. She also encourages parents to monitor their teen sons and daughters' sleep habits to prevent the onset of risky behaviors.

"A lot of parents don't monitor their adolescents' sleep schedules and let them make their own decisions about when to go to bed," Wong said. "But parents need to start talking to their teenagers, not just about grades and extra-curricular activities but about sleep too. And they must get help if needed."