Chronic sleep deprivation in teenagers: Practical ways to help

Teenagers of today sleep less than previous generations. Technology is largely to blame for keeping people perpetually connected in the digital world which is in turn driven by changing social demands for immediacy as a form of intimacy. The consequences for teenagers are later bed times, reduced total sleep time and a degree of sleep catch up on weekends. This is termed chronic sleep deprivation or "social jetlag". The consequences of chronic sleep deprivation are underappreciated in the medical setting. They include altered mood, more somatic and psychological symptomatology, greater anxiety, more school absenteeism, reduced educational results and compromised vocational aspirations. Engagement with reluctant teenagers and their parents may be challenging and at times frustrating for all concerned. Much of the art of improving outcomes involves developing a rapport with the teenager, assisting them to gain insight into the problems associated with chronic sleep deficiency and fostering commitment from all family members to implement unpopular boundaries on the use of technology.