Activities and Social Contact as Antecedents to Adolescent Bedtime

• In Event: Sleep across the lifecourse

Abstract

Objectives

This study evaluates adolescents’ evening patterns in activities, social contact, and locations to better understand antecedents to adolescent bedtime. Specifically, this study examines how much time youth spend in inactive leisure, active leisure, doing homework, with parents, with friends, at home, and in public places, with sensitivity to the timing relative to bedtime.

Background

Past research documents negative consequences of sleep deprivation among youth (Baum et al., 2014; Charles et al., 2015; Chen el al., 2008; Eide & Showalter, 2012; Pesonen et al., 2012). Bedtime is an important aspect of ensuring youth get adequate sleep (e.g., Asarnow et al., 2014; Mindell & Williamson, 2018). Similar to short sleep duration, late bedtimes have been associated with negative physical (Anderson et al., 2016; Olds et al., 2011) and mental health outcomes in youth (Kelly et al., 2012). Therefore, identifying factors that delay or facilitate youth bedtime can help parents, and practitioners foster positive development. Schedules, activities, and social influences during the evening may be some factors that influence youth bedtime (Chung, An, & Suh, 2020). We therefore evaluate activities, social contact, and where adolescents were through the evening to better understand their connections to bedtime.

Method

This study used the American Time Use Survey (2008-2018; Hofferth et al., 2019) to explore adolescent evening routines and social contact relative to bedtime. The study used a nationally representative sample of youth ages 15-18 (N=9,171). Using raw data pattern and Ordinary Least Squares regression analysis to control for socio-demographic factors, we evaluated whether adolescents who went to bed before the median bedtime of 10:40 p.m. differed in evening activities compared adolescents who went to bed late. Specifically, we evaluated differences in passive leisure, active leisure, homework, social contact with parents, social contact with friends, being at home, and being in public places.

Results

The timing of evening activities were predictive of adolescent bedtime. Passive leisure activities, such as watching movies, playing video games, and eating predicted later bedtimes. On the other hand, homework and active leisure (e.g. playing sports) were not important predictors, even on school nights. Contact with parents was not predictive of bedtime, while contact with friends late in the evening was predictive of later bedtime. Adolescents in public places during the evening and late at night had later bedtimes.

Conclusions

Some factors relating to later bedtime arguably provide positive value to adolescents. For example, spending time with friends provides opportunities to develop social skills not easily replicated through interactions with adults (Stanton-Salazar & Spina, 2005). Similarly, spending time in away from home can build autonomy. However, some activities that delay bedtime, such as eating and other sedentary activities, also do not clearly support youth health and development and may in fact be harmful (citation??). Our findings suggest that parents and practitioners should carefully evaluate evening activities and social contact of youth with this added information on how they relate to bedtime.

Authors

• Blake L. Jones, Brigham Young University
  Presenting Author

• Jocelyn Wikle, Brigham Young University
  Non-Presenting Author