Sleep Promotion Program for Improving Sleep Behaviors in Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Sleep Medicine
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Adolescent sleep patterns are often disrupted by academic and social demands.
• Poor sleep quality in adolescents is linked to negative health and academic outcomes.
• There is a need for effective, adaptable sleep interventions for school-going adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of a sleep promotion program for adolescents in Mangalore, India.
• To adapt the program for school-based implementation.
• To evaluate feasibility for a larger randomized controlled trial.

Main Methods:

• Pilot randomized controlled trial with 58 adolescents (mean age 14.02 years).
• Stratified random sampling used for group allocation (intervention n=34, control n=24).
• Utilized validated self-report questionnaires including the Sleep Hygiene Index and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements observed in the intervention group for overall sleep quality, sleep onset latency, sleep duration, and reduced daytime sleepiness and distress.
• No significant changes in sleep hygiene or other sleep parameters were noted.
• Insufficient sleep duration was correlated with increasing age in adolescents.

Conclusions:

• The sleep promotion program demonstrates potential for enhancing sleep behaviors in healthy adolescents.
• The intervention shows promise in improving key sleep parameters and reducing distress.
• Further research is recommended to validate these findings in a larger population.