Like chronobiologists of the Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Basel, Switzerland, found out, it is a significant sign for the end of puberty when adolescents start to go to bed earlier. Due to the physical changes that happen at the beginning of puberty this is easier to recognize. For their research, the scientists chose 1000 girls because they better remember their first menstruation than boys their puberty vocal change or their first ejaculation.
The beginning of puberty at the age of about 11 to 14 changes the rhythm of the inner clock. Before this significant change starts, the children mainly go to bed early. The beginning of the puberty postpones sleep onset to the later night. Due to their inner clock that cares for a waking up signal until late in the evening adolescents don’t succeed in going to bed earlier. According to lead investigator Christian Cajochen falling asleep in front of the TV like many adults do would hardly happen to an adolescent. Now, since getting up time doesn’t change many adolescents accumulate a lack of sleep which is especially remarkable on Fridays. But of course, adolescents don’t go to bed earlier on a Friday since they are able to sleep in on weekends. On an average, they get up two hours later than an adult.
Up until now, the reason for their keeping late hours is not clearly explored. There are speculations that it might favor the partner search. But, according to Cajochen all adolescents are affected by an evening sleeplessness not only the ones who frequently go dancing. A further reason for the irregular sleep-wake-rhythm might be the decrease of the sleeping hormone melatonin that is influencing the inner clock as well. Whereby, pursuant to Cajochen there is no connection. The physical change during puberty might be responsible, too.
The older the adolescents are the later they go to bed. About five to six years after the beginning of puberty the sleeping pattern changes within one year. According to Cajochen the sleep of women is becoming regularly again at the age from 16 to 21 years depending on their first menstruation that is mostly between the age of 11 and 16 years. The need for going to bed earlier again rises.
The Swiss scientist states that according to the findings it would be advisable to postpone start of classes during puberty. Studies proved that a later start improves marks as well as attention. So far, a couple of schools tried to enhance the performance of adolescents with an activating lightning.
This post is also available in / Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch in: German
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