Sleep during COVID-19-related school lockdown, a longitudinal study among high school students

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Adolescent Health
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic prompted widespread school lockdowns, raising concerns about adolescent health.
• Understanding the impact of these lockdowns on adolescent sleep patterns is crucial for public health.
• Previous research has indicated disruptions to sleep during stressful global events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare adolescent sleep patterns before and during COVID-19-related school lockdowns.
• To investigate changes in sleep timing, duration, and social jetlag among high school students.
• To assess the potential health implications of altered sleep during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, longitudinal survey design was employed.
• Data were collected in 2019 (pre-lockdown) and 2020 (during lockdown) from a large sample of high school students.
• Sleep parameters were assessed using the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ).

Main Results:

• Adolescents exhibited later bedtimes (36 min) and wake times (1:35 hr) on schooldays during lockdown compared to pre-lockdown.
• Time spent in bed increased significantly (by 59 min), leading to a 45-min increase in overall sleep duration.
• Social jetlag decreased by 44 minutes, and the proportion of students achieving ≥8 hours of sleep rose from 13.4% to 37.5%.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 school lockdowns were associated with increased sleep duration and reduced social jetlag in adolescents.
• These sleep changes may offer a protective effect against the negative health impacts of the pandemic and associated restrictions.
• Further research is warranted to explore the links between sleep alterations and adolescent health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.