Earlier Bedtimes Reduce Risk of Depression in Teens

Boston (DbTechNo) - Results of a new study suggest that earlier bedtimes for teenagers can reduce their risk of developing bouts of depression.

As children become teens, their bodies begin to change as they mature, and the same can be said for their mental make up.

For their study, researchers analyzed data taken from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.

The study found that children allowed to stay up past midnight were 24% more likely to develop depression, and 20% more likely to have suicidal thoughts.

Those teens who were in bed by 10 were not at any increased risk of suicidal thoughts or bouts of depression.

The teens who had the earlier bedtime, were able to sleep more than those who stayed up late, a fact that also decreased their risk of developing depression.

“Our results are consistent with the theory that inadequate sleep is a risk factor for depression,” says study researcher James E. Gangwisch, PhD, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York.

The study is published in the journal SLEEP.