Development of sleep patterns in early adolescence

This study examines the developmental changes of sleep patterns as a functi on of gender and puberty and assesses the prevalence of sleep habits and sl eep disturbances in early adolescence. It also investigates the relationshi p between sleep patterns, sleep habits and difficulty falling asleep and no cturnal awakenings. The present analyses are based on results available for 588 boys and 558 girls for whom mothers completed questions concerning dem ographics and sleep at annual intervals when their child was aged 10-13 yea rs. The results indicated that nocturnal sleep times decreased, bedtimes we re delayed and differences between weekend and school day sleep schedules p rogressively increased with age. Gender and puberty were both associated wi th the timing of sleep on weekends. Girls presented longer weekend time in bed (TIB) and later weekend wake time than boys. Similarly, subjects with h igher pubertal status showed longer weekend TIB and later weekend wake time than subjects with lower pubertal status. Difficulty falling asleep was as sociated with later weekend wake time and with sleeping with a night light. In conclusion, the gender differences commonly reported in adolescents' sl eep patterns are most likely explained by girls' higher pubertal status. Th is study emphasizes the link between puberty and a putative physiological n eed for more sleep, in presence of a general reduction of sleep times durin g adolescence. From age 10-13 years, the delay and lengthening of the sleep period on weekends in comparison to schooldays is associated with difficul ty falling asleep.