More sleep in everyday life reduced the risk of anxiety and depression
The students were asked about how they slept both on weekdays and weekends, what their preferred circadian rhythm was, and about symptoms of anxiety and depression.
– Overall, we saw that sleep problems and mental disorders influence each other somewhat mutually, says Evanger.
– More specifically, we saw that for every hour more sleep the young people got on school days, their risk of developing depression and anxiety decreased two years later, says the research fellow.
Those VG1 students who had symptoms of anxiety and depression at baseline also had a higher risk of having symptoms of the sleep disorder insomnia two years later.
– It's hard to take sleep problems seriously
She believes that the findings show that sleep problems in children and adolescents should be taken seriously.
– It is completely normal to sleep poorly at times, but if you experience significant sleep problems over time, it is good to take it seriously and talk to your GP about it. Some people may need specific treatment for their sleep disorders, such as insomnia, says the psychologist.
Read the whole story here: https://www.uib.no/med/180639/d%C3%A5rlig-s%C3%B8vn-er-koblet-til-d%C3%A5rligere-psykisk-helse-hos-unge-%C3%A5r-etter
