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