INDIANA – Indiana has one of the highest rates of sleep deprivation among high school students in the country, according to a new analysis that highlights a serious public health concern affecting teenagers across the state.
A study by Amerisleep, which analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Survey, found that 82.1% of Indiana high school students reported not getting the recommended eight hours of sleep on an average school night. This places Indiana as the third most sleep-deprived state for high school students, trailing only Pennsylvania (83.9%) and West Virginia (82.5%).
Data Table
| Overall | 69 | 69 | 68 | 73 | 75 | 78 | 77 |
| Female | 72 | 71 | 71 | 76 | 75 | 80 | 80 |
| Male | 67 | 66 | 66 | 70 | 74 | 76 | 75 |
| Overall 95% Confidence Interval | 67.5 – 70.7 | 67.3 – 69.9 | 66.8 – 69.8 | 70.4 – 74.9 | 73.1 – 76.0 | 76.3 – 79.4 | 76.0 – 78.4 |
| Female 95% Confidence Interval | 70.1 – 73.4 | 69.2 – 72.5 | 69.5 – 72.7 | 73.3 – 77.7 | 73.5 – 77.2 | 77.6 – 81.6 | 78.1 – 81.4 |
The ranking puts Indiana among a cluster of Midwest and Northeast states struggling with widespread insufficient sleep among adolescents. Nationally, the problem is most acute for high school seniors, with 84% of 12th graders experiencing the highest rate of inadequate rest across all demographic groups.
Consequences for Hoosier Teens
Dr. Jordan Burns, a sleep specialist at Amerisleep, noted that chronic insufficient sleep during adolescence has far-reaching consequences.
“Chronic insufficient sleep during adolescence can impact brain development, academic performance, mental health, and physical well-being,” Dr. Burns stated. “The regional patterns we’re seeing suggest multiple factors may be at play, including school start times, academic pressures, screen time, and social influences.”
For Indiana teenagers, insufficient sleep is associated with issues like:
- Reduced Cognitive Function: Impaired attention and slower reaction times.
- Mental Health Struggles: Increased risk of depression and anxiety.
- Safety Risks: A higher likelihood of drowsy driving accidents among new teen drivers.
Potential Solutions Focus on School Schedules
Experts emphasize that the biological clocks of teenagers naturally shift to sleep later and wake times, making early school start times a significant factor in chronic sleep loss.
Dr. Burns suggests:
- Later School Start Times: Schools should consider adjusting start times, as research indicates that this can significantly improve sleep duration and quality for adolescents.
- Parental Intervention: Parents are advised to establish consistent bedtime routines, limit screen time before bed, and create dark, calm, and quiet sleep-friendly environments.
While some states, such as South Dakota (71.3%), show relatively lower rates of deprivation, the data underscore that a vast majority of American teenagers are not getting adequate rest.
