Teen weekend sleep-ins linked to lower depression risk, psychologist says

A study of 16–24-year-olds found those who made up weekday sleep on weekends were 41% less likely to report depressive symptoms, researchers at the University of Oregon and SUNY Upstate reported.

New research reports that teenagers and young adults who catch up on lost sleep on weekends show lower rates of depressive symptoms. The study used self-reported bedtimes and wake-up times to calculate how much extra sleep people got on weekends compared with weekdays. Researchers were based at the University of Oregon and SUNY Upstate Medical University. The authors note that while consistent nightly sleep is the standard, weekend extra sleep may be associated with better emotional wellbeing when weekday schedules fall short. Key findings: - The study focused on people aged 16 to 24. - Weekend catch-up sleep was defined as the difference between average weekend sleep and weekday sleep. - Participants who slept more on weekends were reported as 41 percent less likely to report daily symptoms of depression than those who did not make up lost sleep. - The researchers recommend adolescents get eight to ten hours of sleep per night but acknowledge many teens face competing demands that limit weekday sleep. - The paper notes a biological shift in circadian rhythms during puberty that tends to make teenagers more likely to fall asleep later. - Depression is described as a leading cause of disability in the 16–24 age group, with effects on daily functioning such as attendance and punctuality. Summary: The study reports an association between weekend catch-up sleep and lower reported depressive symptoms among late adolescents and young adults, while emphasizing that regular nightly sleep is preferable. The research highlights an age group often excluded from similar sleep studies and points to biological factors that shift adolescent sleep timing. Undetermined at this time.