Scientists have learned about the impact of sleep deficiency in childhood on the risk of depression in adolescents

Scientists from the University of Birmingham in the UK have found that lack of sleep at an early age significantly increases the likelihood of depression during adolescence. This was reported on June 8 by Medical Xpress magazine.

Experts analyzed the data of 15,589 people. It turned out that 2% of children who regularly slept less than normal had an approximately doubled risk of developing depression between the ages of 13 and 22. Participants in the sleep-deprived group rested an average of 9-9.5 hours a day, while the average for the other groups was about 11 hours.

She stressed that sleep patterns are a factor that can be adjusted without medical intervention. According to experts, going to bed early, limiting screen time before rest, and creating a calm environment in the bedroom will help improve the situation.

The researchers also studied the biological mechanisms of this connection. Scientists have suggested that chronic sleep deprivation affects brain development through inflammatory processes. In particular, the inflammatory marker interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been identified, which may play a role in the formation of a predisposition to mental disorders. However, the second marker, C-reactive protein (CRP), did not show a statistically significant association with the development of depression in this context.

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Additionally, scientists have recorded that the risk of developing depression is influenced by the sex of the child (in girls it is higher) and family difficulties. Other socio-economic factors did not have a significant impact on the final indicators. Data on sleep duration was collected during parent surveys when children were between 18 months and seven years old.

Rebecca Amos, a co-author of the study and a doctor at the University of Birmingham, emphasized that this study expands understanding of the factors that increase the risk of developing more severe and prolonged depression in young people. The findings, she said, indicate the ability of chronic sleep deprivation to lead to long-term mental health problems through biological mechanisms, including inflammatory processes. However, improving sleep patterns and bedtime can offset this effect.

On June 2, Medical Xpress reported on the association of parenting methods with the risk of depression in adolescents. According to the publication, psychological pressure from parents, including manipulation of feelings of guilt and threats of lovelessness, not only provokes the risk of depression, but also increases the risk of self-harm in adolescents.