Sleeping difficulties among adolescents constitute a pressing public health issue, and it is of the utmost importance that these are approached from a health-promotion perspective. This study explores adolescents' suggestions on how their sleep could be supported. Data were collected via eight focus group interviews with 43 adolescents aged 15-16, in Sweden, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The results describe the adolescents' suggestions on how their sleep could be supported in three themes: being supported by involved parents- routines, engagement, and warmth are vital; being supported to achieve knowledge on the "whys" and "hows" of sleep-increased knowledge gives the ability to make well-grounded sleep choices; and being guided into finding balance-balance in life is difficult to achieve and adolescents desire support. Parents, school nurses, health professionals, and anyone who has the opportunity to improve and promote sleep should consider adolescents' suggestions.

Objectives:

Now recognized as a public health issue, sleeping difficulties among adolescents, mainly involving insufficient sleep, are common (Gradisar et al., 2011; Louzada, 2019; Saxvig et al., 2020). To avoid persistent sleeping difficulties, health-related problems, and school failure, it is of utmost importance to promote good sleep among adolescents. This study explores adolescents’ suggestions on how their sleep could be supported.

Methods:

Data were collected via eight focus group interviews with 43 adolescents aged 15–16 from different demographic areas in a Swedish city, 42% boys and 58% girls. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis (Lindgren et al., 2020). 

Results:

The results describes the adolescents’ suggestions about how their sleep can be supported in three themes. 

Being supported by involved parents

Even though adolescents are starting to become independent individuals, they want support to sleep better. Above all, they want support from their parents in the form of routines, security, and knowledge about sleep.

Being supported to achieve knowledge on the “whys” and “hows” of sleep

Adolescents value knowledge and advice that they receive from those they trust because it is then perceived as targeted and personal. Adolescents also want school education about sleep to be more activity-based, as they find that learning and motivation increase with this type of pedagogy.

Being guided into finding balance 

By being encouraged into activity, learning to deal with silence, as well as by receiving support by structures in school, the adolescents believe they can be guided to finding balance. 

Conclusions:

Designing interventions and health promotions in line with what the adolescents suggest will create the conditions to successfully support adolescents’ sleep. These suggestions should be used by parents, health professionals, and the school, all of whom have the opportunity to influence adolescents; these strategies also need to be evaluated

En vanlig uppfattning i samhället är att ungdomar som sover för lite är slarviga med rutiner och att skärmarna tar deras tid. Men är problematiken så enkel? Hur är det egentligen att ha sömnsvårigheter? En ny studie från Högskolan Borås ger en inblick i ungdomars egna upplevelser.

Introduction: Sleeping difficulties, including insufficient sleep, trouble falling asleep, waking up at night, or sleep that does not leave an individual rested, are increasingly prevalent among adolescents and have negative consequences for their’ health, well-being, and education. It is of utmost importance to research adolescents’ sleep. A range of studies with different methodological perspectives are needed to inform and understand adolescents’ sleep. To date, there are few studies in sleep research that take a qualitative approach. Therefore, it is important to illuminate adolescents’ own experience of sleeping difficulties to acquire broader knowledge and the necessary evidence in order to provide preventive care interventions.

Method: The data were obtained from narrative interviews with 16 adolescents aged 14–15 in a Swedish city and were analyzed using the phenomenological hermeneutic method.

Results: Four themes that illustrate the meaning of adolescents experience of sleeping difficulties emerged: feeling dejected when not falling asleep, experiencing the night as a struggle, searching for better sleep, and being affected the next day. The comprehensive understanding illuminates what being an adolescent with sleeping difficulties means; it is a challenge to go through the night; cope with the next day; and to harbor a panorama of emotions that emerge during the night, such as frustration, annoyance, concern, dejection, sadness, and fear. These emotions arise when the adolescent is unable to unwind and has concerns that grow during the night. The adolescent experience a feeling of being trapped in circumstances, all of which are incompatible with getting a good night’s sleep.

Conclusions: In order to understand adolescents’ sleeping difficulties, a comprehensive understanding of the context in which the adolescents live is needed. Adolescents need to navigate and find balance in relation to circumstances that may affect their sleep and that are often beyond their control, such as norms and values in society, in social media, in school, and in family and friend groups. By genuinely listening to the adolescents’ narratives about their sleeping difficulties and the context in which they interact will parents, professional caregivers, and researchers increase their understanding.

Objectives/Introduction: Sleeping difficulties, including insufficient sleep, trouble falling asleep, waking up at night, or sleep that does not leave an individual rested, are increasingly prevalent among adolescents and have negative consequences for their’ health, well‐being, and education. It is of utmost importance to research adolescents’ sleep. A range of studies with different methodological perspectives are needed to inform and understand adolescents’ sleep. To date, there are few studies in sleep research that take a qualitative approach. Therefore, it is important to illuminate adolescents’ own experience of sleeping difficulties to acquire broader knowledge and the necessary evidence in order to provide preventive care interventions.

Methods: The data were obtained from narrative interviews with 16 adolescents aged 14–15 in a Swedish city and were analyzed using the phenomenological hermeneutic method.

Results: Four themes that illustrate the meaning of adolescents experience of sleeping difficulties emerged: feeling dejected when not falling asleep, experiencing the night as a struggle, searching for better sleep, and being affected the next day. The comprehensive understanding illuminates what being an adolescent with sleeping difficulties means; it is a challenge to go through the night; cope with the next day; and to harbor a panorama of emotions that emerge during the night, such as frustration, annoyance, concern, dejection, sadness, and fear. These emotions arise when the adolescent is unable to unwind and has concerns that grow during the night. The adolescent experience a feeling of being trapped in circumstances, all of which are incompatible with getting a good night's sleep.

Conclusions: In order to understand adolescents’ sleeping difficulties, a comprehensive understanding of the context in which the adolescents live is needed. Adolescents need to navigate and find balance in relation to circumstances that may affect their sleep and that are often beyond their control, such as norms and values in society, in social media, in school, and in family and friend groups. By genuinely listening to the adolescents’ narratives about their sleeping difficulties and the context in which they interact will parents, professional caregivers, and researchers increase their understanding.

Sleeping difficulties are increasingly prevalent among adolescents and have negative consequences for their health, well-being, and education. The aim of this study was to illuminate the meanings of adolescents’ lived experiences of sleeping difficulties. The data were obtained from narrative interviews with 16 adolescents aged 14–15 in a Swedish city and were analyzed using the phenomenological hermeneutic method. The findings revealed four themes: feeling dejected when not falling asleep, experiencing the night as a struggle, searching for better sleep, and being affected the next day. The comprehensive understanding illuminates that being an adolescent with sleeping difficulties means it is challenging to go through the night and to cope the next day. It also means a feeling of being trapped by circumstances. As the adolescents’ lived experiences become apparent, the possibility for parents, school nurses, and other professional caregivers to support adolescents’ sleep increases.

Background

Sleeping difficulties are increasingly prevalent among adolescents worldwide and have negative consequences for health, well-being, and education. In order to develop and implement health promotion about sleep, additional knowledge is required, especially knowledge based on adolescent´s own experiences. This kind of research is currently limited. This study aimed to describe reasons for sleeping difficulties as perceived by adolescents.

Methods

This was a descriptive study, analyzing the data with qualitative and quantitative content analysis. Data was collected using an open ended question in a questionnaire; If you experience that you sleep too short, have trouble falling asleep, wake up at night or sleep not rested, please write what you think your sleeping difficulties may be due to. The participants consisted of 475 adolescents in grade nine (15-16 year), in 13 secondary schools, in a Swedish city.

Results

The adolescent´s descriptions of reasons for sleeping difficulties are understood as an imbalance between requirements and preconditions. Requirements are about performing at school, doing activities, being social both digitally and in real life, having fun, taking care of their health, reflecting on the existence and the future. Preconditions can be about having time, structure and parental support, but also an ability to set your own limits. When the preconditions are insufficient to match the requirements, an imbalance occurs where sleep loses out. Six different categories described reasons for adolescents sleeping difficulties. The most prominent reason was stress followed by technology use and then poor sleep habits, existential thoughts, needs, and suffering.

Conclusions

In order to avoid sleeping difficulties, adolescents need to deal with reasons such as stress, technology use, non-existent sleeping habits, existential considerations, needs and various forms of suffering. Adolescents need support to find a functioning balance in everyday life, dealing with these reasons. The support is needed from especially parents but also from professional caregivers. All health professionals caring for adolescents should remain vigilant regarding the important issue of sleeping difficulties, as good sleep hygiene optimizes adolescents’ capability for health and development.

Objectives/Introduction: Sleeping difficulties are increasingly prevalent among adolescents worldwide and have negative consequences for health, well‐being, and education. In order to develop and implement health promotion about sleep, additional knowledge is required, especially knowledge based on adolescent´s own experiences. This kind of research is currently limited. This study aimed to describe reasons for sleeping difficulties as perceived by adolescents.

Methods: This was a descriptive study, analyzing the data with qualitative and quantitative content analysis. Data was collected using an open ended question in a questionnaire; If you experience that you sleep too short, have trouble falling asleep, wake up at night or sleep not rested, please write what you think your sleeping difficulties may be due to. The participants consisted of 475 adolescents in grade nine (15–16 year), in 13 secondary schools, in a Swedish city.

Results: The adolescent´s descriptions of reasons for sleeping difficulties are understood as an imbalance between requirements and preconditions. Requirements are about performing at school, doing activities, being social both digitally and in real life, having fun, taking care of their health, reflecting on the existence and the future. Preconditions can be about having time, structure and parental support, but also an ability to set your own limits. When the preconditions are insufficient to match the requirements, an imbalance occurs where sleep loses out. Six different categories described reasons for adolescents sleeping difficulties. The most prominent reason was stress followed by technology use and then poor sleep habits, existential thoughts, needs, and suffering.

Conclusions: In order to avoid sleeping difficulties, adolescents need to deal with reasons such as stress, technology use, non‐existent sleeping habits, existential considerations, needs and various forms of suffering. Adolescents need support to find a functioning balance in everyday life, dealing with these reasons. The support is needed from especially parents but also from professional caregivers. All health professionals caring for adolescents should remain vigilant regarding the important issue of sleeping difficulties, as good sleep hygiene optimizes adolescents’ capability for health and development.

Background

Sleeping difficulties are growing among adolescents worldwide. Research shows relationships between sleeping difficulties and reduced learning ability, memory impairment, hyperactivity, poorer school performance, lower grades, and increased risk of depression and anxiety. In order to develop and implement health promotion about sleep, additional knowledge is required, especially knowledge based on adolescent´s own experiences. This kind of research is currently limited both nationally and internationally. This study aimed to describe reasons for sleeping difficulties as perceived by adolescents.

Methods

This was a descriptive study, analyzing the data with qualitative and quantitative content analysis. Data was collected using an open ended question in a questionnaire; If you experience that you sleep too short, have trouble falling asleep, wake up at night or sleep not rested, please write what you think your sleeping difficulties may be due to. Background information, such as gender, housing, ethnicity and grades were collected too. The participants consisted of 475 adolescents in grade nine (15-16 year), in 13 secondary schools, in a Swedish city.

Results

The adolescent´s descriptions of reasons for sleeping difficulties are understood as an imbalance between requirements and preconditions. Requirements are about performing at school, doing activities, being social both digitally and in real life, having fun, taking care of their health, reflecting on the existence and the future. Preconditions can be about having time, structure and parental support, but also an ability to set your own limits. When the preconditions are insufficient to match the requirements, an imbalance occurs where sleep loses out. Six different categories described reasons for adolescents sleeping difficulties. The most prominent reason was stress followed by technology use and then poor sleep habits, existential thoughts, needs, and suffering.

Conclusions

In order to avoid sleeping difficulties, adolescents need to deal with reasons such as stress, technology use, non-existent sleeping habits, existential considerations, needs and various forms of suffering. Adolescents need support to find a functioning balance in everyday life, dealing with these reasons. The support is needed from especially parents but also from the school nurse and school health services. The school nurses has an important role to prevent sleeping difficulties by addressing reasons for sleeping difficulties.