Research shows that during adolescence, sleep patterns begin to
shift and change. Compared with younger kids, teens need more
sleep, spend less time in deep sleep, and tend to fall asleep
and awaken later. Factors in a teen's day-to-day routine —
including early school start times, part-time jobs, and social
commitments — can conspire to rob them of the sleep they need
and make sleepiness during the school day a common problem. But
even though they may feel sleepy, many teens may have trouble
getting to and staying asleep at night, say researchers from
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and Detroit, Michigan.
Between February 2001 and May 2003, 1,014 13- to 16-year-old
teens enrolled in a large health maintenance organization (HMO)
and their parents answered questions about sleep habits and
problems, use of substances such as alcohol or illegal drugs,
academic and social activities, physical health, and overall
stress. The teens noted whether they had problems falling
asleep, whether they had problems st