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Matthew Dy

Professor Almendarez

Engl 114B

10 May 2017

Sleep Deprived Students

The behaviors teenage students possess such as fatigue and moodiness are considered

normal, however these are known as symptoms of sleep deprivation. Students entering high

school or college is the time, many students begin to sleep less. According to the National Sleep

Foundation, students need an average of about 8-10 hours of sleep, however there are only 15%

of students more than 8 1/2 hours of sleep every night. Sleep is a necessity in order for students

to perform at their best. A poor night of sleep can affect a students grade as well as the ability to

learn. It can also impact a students social life, as they may become depressed, anxious, or

develop other mental disorders. Sleep deprivation negatively impacts teenage students, because it

can have an effect on their academic performance and mental health, however there are many

actions student can take to obtain more sleep.

It should be no surprise to many that there is a tremendous link between a students sleep

schedule and GPA. Students who are not getting a sufficient amount of sleep each night are

known to have poor grades. According to Ruthann Ritcher, Many studies show students who

sleep less suffer academically, as chronic sleep loss impairs the ability to remember, concentrate,

think abstractly and solve problems (1). It is harder to take tests, finish assignments, and

understand concepts with a poor amount of sleep. The more sleep attained each night can

improve a students performance and fulfill his potential in the classroom. Meanwhile, it has

become very common for students to pull all-nighters in order to complete their assignments, but
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studies have shown that staying up all night instead of sleeping is actually counterproductive.

The author Addi Anderson exclaims, Therefore, pulling an all-nighter, a common practice at

college during finals week, decreases the ability to learn new facts by nearly 40 percent, due to a

shutdown of brain regions during sleep deprivation (1). Although students finish their

assignments before the due date, staying up late can be detrimental to a students success.

Without a proper amount of sleep it is almost as if the student did not even show up to class.

Students who choose to procrastination are ultimately the ones who are missing out in the end.

The more sleep attained each night improves students alertness. The author also notes, Sleep

not only refreshes the mind but can make you smarter. The more hours we spend awake, the

more sluggish our minds become (Anderson). The brain is like the body, it needs rest.

Without proper rest, students are more not actively paying attention in class, which is a vital asset

to succeed in school. With little sleep, it is harder for students to manage their emotions which

has a major effect on their mental health.

Sleep deprivation can have an enormous impact on a students mood and emotion.

Students in their teen years are unable to cope with their emotions due to a lack of sleep, which is

extremely unhealthy. The author Ruthann Richter states, Sleep is believed to help regulate

emotions, and its deprivation is an underlying component of many mood disorders, such as

anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder (1). Since students have developed poor sleep

schedules, it has become very common for teens to develop mood disorders during their high

school and college years. Incorporating more sleep in students schedules can help them control

their emotions and mood disorders. As a matter of fact, the combination of sleep deprivation and

stress can take a heavy hit on students. Richter also states in her article, Research has shown

that sleep problems among adolescents are a major risk factor for suicidal thoughts and death by
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suicide, which ranks as the third-leading cause of fatalities among 15- to 24-year-olds (1). The

less sleep received each night makes it more difficult for students to think clearly. An adequate

amount of sleep can help students realize there is something wrong and go seek help.

Also, sleep deprivation can cause students to make poor decisions. Richter exclaims, Sleep

deprivation also has been shown to lower inhibitions among (students) (1). Students may make

a poor choice by driving to school while they are half asleep. They are not being a cautious

driver, which leaves them susceptible to car accidents. Driving while drowsy is almost as

dangerous as driving drunk.

Although many students tend to stay up late, there are many factors that limit students

from a healthy amount of sleep. One of the most common reasons students tend to stay up late at

night is because of distractions. The author Jerusha Conner remarks, Students tell us that they

have social media sites, like YikYak and Tinder, open on their computers as they are doing their

homework, and that their smart phones keep pinging with incoming texts, Instagrams and

Snapchats throughout the night (1). In this day and age technology is a daily part of a students

life, however students need to become more disciplined and stay away from their phones and

social media while doing schoolwork. Staying away from technology will help students be more

productive, thus have more time for sleep. Also, it is important for students to develop a regular

sleep schedule. The article Sleep Rocks Get More of It! states, Sleeping more than 1-2 hours

more on the weekend can wreak havoc on your circadian rhythms, so a regular wake schedule is

important (1). Students usually try to catch up on sleep over the weekend after a long week of

school, however an inconsistent sleep pattern can confuse the body making it harder to sleep

during the weekday. Another way to get more sleep would be to schedule afternoon classes.

Ruthann Ritchers says, Teens are also biologically disposed to a later sleep time because of a
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shift in the system that governs the natural sleep-wake cycle (1). As students get older it

becomes more natural for them to fall asleep later. Teens are more alert in the afternoon, so it is

more beneficial for them to schedule later classes. Just a few minor changes in a students

lifestyle can help regulate a healthy sleep schedule.

Based on the research shown, it is very evident how important sleep is. Many people,

especially students, are unaware of the consequences of poor sleep. In fact, sleep can help

students accomplish more in their classrooms, while also live a happier and healthier lifestyle.

Little changes in a students habits can help attain more sleep. Students need to embrace the idea

of sleeping more, because it will help them in the long run. The amount of schoolwork and the

pressure to succeed students are facing can be extremely time consuming and stressful, which

leaves them little room for sleep. At such a young age, it should not be common for teenagers to

suffer from sleep deprivation, it is time for people to understand that the majority of students are

sleep deprived and there needs to be more help available for students. In order for students to

succeed, it starts with more sleep.

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Works Cited

Anderson, Addi. "How does Sleep Affect Students?" University Wire, Oct 11, 2016, ProQuest

Newsstand, http://libproxy.csun.edu/login?

url=http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.csun.edu/docview/1827753027?accountid=7285.

Accessed 19 Apr. 2017.

Conner, Jerusha. Sleep to Succeed. U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report,

22 July 2015, www.usnews.com/opinion/knowledge-bank/2015/07/22/teens-need-more-

sleep-to-succeed-in-school. Accessed 9 May 2017.

Richter, Ruthann. Among Teens, Sleep Deprivation an Epidemic. News Center, 8 Oct. 1970,

med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2015/10/among-teens-sleep-deprivation-an-

epidemic.html. Accessed 2 May 2017.

Sleep Rocks! ...Get More of It! University Health Center | Managing Stress | Sleep University

Health Center | University of Georgia University Health Center, www.uhs.uga.edu/sleep.

Accessed 6 May 2017.