IEU member writes: Why our students are always tired

There has been much discussion recently about Australian students complaining of being constantly tired, irritable and anxious due to a lack of sleep, writes Garry Warren.

A major research study published by the Australian Institute of Family Studies found that more than half of Australians aged 16 or 17 were not getting the necessary amount of quality sleep, and as a result were more prone to suffer from depression and anxiety.

When surveyed, some students have cited factors such as the burden of study and the demands of part-time work as contributing factors to their poor sleep habits. I would agree that for some students this is a legitimate explanation, however, for most of our young people struggling to get out of bed in the morning I believe the reasons are far simpler.

The sleep habits of our sons and daughters are being severely compromised by their addiction to smartphones and by the food and drink they are consuming. In his latest bestseller, The Anxious Generation, renowned social psychologist Professor Jonathan Haidt shines a disturbing light on how children born after 1995 are experiencing what he describes as ‘The Great Rewiring’.

He concludes that metrics such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide have all increased markedly for young people due to their exposure to smart phones and social media.

Numerous studies have also shown that there is a direct link between the ‘blue light’ emitted by smart phones and sleep latency. In other words, teenagers who are using these devices, even 90 minutes before going to bed, are significantly reducing the likelihood of receiving the 8-10 hours of quality sleep their young bodies and brains desperately crave.

It is common for children to go to bed with these devices by their beds or under their pillows. Is it any wonder that some of them are struggling to stay awake at school by the time lunchtime arrives? Regular, high-quality sleep is essential for all of us, but particularly for our youth, and it is the responsibility of parents and legislators alike to do everything at their disposal to ensure this occurs.

Linked to the unhealthy dependency upon electronic devices is the ever decreasing level of physical fitness that our children are exhibiting. A disturbing study recently published in the prestigious journal The Lancet found that Australian teenagers rank 140th out of 146 countries in meeting the World Health Organization’s physical activity recommendations.

One of the main reasons for this was the increased access to electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets and gaming consoles. The adage ‘healthy body, healthy mind’ has never been more relevant. I believe we would be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t agree that regular exercise enhances the quality of our sleep, cognitive function and general wellbeing.

An equally crucial factor related to poor sleep and teenagers is nutrition. The amount of sugar and caffeine that our youth are consuming daily is frightening when compared to the RDI’s (recommended daily intake) for young people. It is recommended that adolescents under the age of 14 avoid caffeine completely and those between 14-17 consume no more than 100mg per day.

Despite this, research has shown that it is common for many teenagers to drastically exceed these levels. Some ‘energy drinks’ contain the equivalent of 21 teaspoons of sugar and as much as 320 mgs of caffeine, and these are products that many teenagers consume on a regular basis.

Due to teenagers’ underdeveloped brains and smaller bodies, the impact of excessive caffeine and sugar is significantly magnified, and serious medical consequences may result. It is becoming increasingly difficult for parents to determine what is suitable for their child’s breakfast these days, as even cereals that are touted by the manufacturer as being ‘healthy and nutritious’ prove to be anything but when their contents are scrutinised.

It is quite possible that by the time a student arrives at school in the morning he or she has already exceeded the RDI’s for sugar and caffeine consumption for that day.

Regular, high-quality sleep is essential for all of us, but particularly for our youth, and it is the responsibility of parents and legislators alike to do everything at their disposal to ensure this occurs.

Schools also have an important role to play – ensuring that students have opportunities for regular exercise, limiting access to smartphones and banning sugar-heavy caffeinated drinks are all steps that would meaningfully support the education and wellbeing of sleep-deprived adolescents.

Then, after a good night’s sleep, the rigours of studying and part-time work might not seem so stressful.

Gary Warren is a PE teacher with over 40 years’ experience who works at a Melbourne independent school and is a regular contributor to The Point and The Age.