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Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
Published on: October 2, 2019
Gender Identity Disparities in Early Adolescent Sleep: Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study
Colbey Ricklefs1, Priyadharshini Balasubramanian1, Kyle T Ganson2
1Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Abstract:
Purpose: Our aim was to examine associations between transgender identity and sleep disturbance in a demographically diverse, national sample of U.S. early adolescents. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study from Year 3 (2019-2021, n = 10,277, 12-13 years) to investigate the association between transgender identity and caregiver-reported measures of their adolescent's sleep, assessed by the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children. Results: Transgender adolescents had a higher risk of overall sleep disturbance and symptoms of insomnia and excessive sleepiness. Furthermore, per caregiver report, transgender adolescents were more likely to have shorter sleep duration categories; particularly concerning is the significant risk of <5 hours of sleep for transgender adolescents compared with their cisgender peers. Conclusion: These findings indicate that transgender adolescents had worse caregiver-reported sleep outcomes compared to cisgender peers. This study highlights the need for screenings and interventions targeted at improving sleep among transgender adolescents.
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