Poor Sleep in Teens Linked to Brain Function, Behavior Issues
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Adolescents who don’t get enough quality sleep may face impaired brain connectivity and a higher risk of behavioral problems, new University of Georgia research shows.
The study from the University of Georgia, published in Brain and Behavior, found that reduced sleep in teens is associated with lower connectivity between brain regions responsible for decision-making, self-reflection, and information processing.
Disruptions in these areas have also been linked to mental health conditions including depression, ADHD, and schizophrenia.
Teens with weaker brain connectivity were more likely to exhibit behavioral issues such as poor impulse control, aggressiveness, and acting out.
“Sleep isn't just good for children. It helps keep their mental health intact and helps them regulate their emotions,” said Assaf Oshri, corresponding author and professor in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Oshri, who also directs the Georgia Center for Developmental Science, noted that both sleep duration and sleep efficiency correlate with brain network patterns tied to behavioral problems.
The findings suggest that improving adolescents' sleep could help prevent future conduct issues.
The researchers analyzed data from over 2,800 participants in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study, the largest long-term study of child brain development in the US.
Using Fitbits, the study tracked teens’ sleep over two weeks and compared it to MRI scans that revealed differences in brain connectivity.
Parents reported behavioral issues during the study’s second and third years.
Boys, older adolescents, and children from minority groups were more likely to sleep less and exhibit behavioral problems during the later phases.
“Adolescence is an extremely critical period for brain development,” said lead author Linhao Zhang, a recent doctoral graduate at UGA.
“And sleep is critical for brain development. But many adolescents don’t get enough quality sleep at night.”
Zhang emphasized that sleep quality—not just duration—affects emotional regulation and impulse control.
“How adolescents sleep influences how their brains function, and that influences their mental health outcomes,” Zhang said.
“It’s not just about how long you slept. It’s how well did you sleep? Did you take a long time to fall asleep? Did you wake up in the middle of the night?”
