A new study by researchers at The University of Manchester, using data from the #BeeWell survey, has found that sleep plays a crucial role in the mental wellbeing of adolescent girls.
Published in Quality of Life Research, the study tracked nearly 28,000 teenagers in Greater Manchester over three years and examined how sleep, physical activity, and mental wellbeing are connected.
It revealed that girls' sleep and mental wellbeing are closely linked. When girls reported getting enough sleep, they reported better mental wellbeing one year later. Interestingly, this relationship was found to be reciprocal, meaning that better mental wellbeing also predicted the later sleep quality of girls. This connection was particularly strong between the ages of 12 and 14 - a crucial time when mental health challenges can emerge.
For boys, sleep was also a predictor of their wellbeing, but the study did not find a reciprocal effect - wellbeing did not predict their later sleep quality.
The study also found that sleep patterns of girls were less stable than those of boys, suggesting that it may be a useful target for intervention.
Finally, the study found that for boys, wellbeing predicted their later physical activity levels.
"Our research demonstrates the critical role of sleep in adolescent wellbeing, particularly for girls," said lead researcher Dr Jose Marquez. "It is therefore vital that young people are empowered with the knowledge, practices and benefits of good sleep habits, in addition to raising awareness of the immediate and longer-term consequences of poor sleep quality."
These findings underscore the importance of addressing sleep issues to support the mental health of young people and that gender is an important factor when considering how sleep and wellbeing are connected.
The #BeeWell survey, which made this study possible, continues to provide valuable insights into the lives of young people, informing better policies and practices to improve outcomes. Visit https://beewellprogramme.org to find out more about the programme.
