Teenagers are famously exhausted – always. Early school mornings, academic pressure and late nights mean many barely get enough sleep during the week. Parents often think that allowing teens this weekend sleep habit will affect their mental health.
But research suggests that sleeping in on weekends may not be as harmful as once thought. In fact, scientists studying teen sleep patterns noticed an unexpected link between weekend lie-ins and teen mental health, one that could matter for families trying to support struggling adolescents.
The weekend sleep habit and its link with teen mental health
Published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the study analysed sleep and mental health data from young people aged 16 to 24, focusing on how weekday sleep loss and weekend recovery affected mood.
What stood out was the difference between teens who had the weekend sleep habit and those who did not. Teenagers and young adults who slept longer on weekends to make up for lost weekday sleep were significantly less likely to report symptoms of depression than those who did not, showing a correlation between teen mental health and sleep.
According to the data, teens who caught up on sleep over weekends had around a 41% lower risk of depressive symptoms. The researchers believe this may be linked to how the adolescent brain responds to chronic sleep deprivation.
Why teens struggle to get enough sleep during the week
During puberty, teenagers experience a natural shift in their body clocks, making it harder for them to fall asleep early. This change, often leading to a sleep cycle that typically allows teens to fall asleep at 23:00 and wake at 8:00, clashes with early school start times. This leaves many teens short on sleep before the day even begins.
“It’s normal for teens to be night owls, so let them catch up on sleep on weekends if they can’t get enough sleep during the week because that’s likely to be somewhat protective,” said Melynda Casement, a licensed psychologist, associate professor in the UO’s College of Arts and Sciences and director of the UO’s Sleep Lab.
Homework, extracurricular activities, social pressures and screen use further cut into rest time. As a result, many adolescents build up a sleep deficit during the week without realising how significant it has become.
There are even public campaigns in America calling for schools to start later. Adapting school times may also lead to improved mental health among teens.
Weekend sleep-ins may help reduce this accumulated sleep debt, giving the brain a chance to recover.
The weekend sleep habit is not an excuse to abandon healthy sleep habits
The researchers highlight that sleeping in on weekends is not a substitute for regular, quality sleep. The study also only shows a link, not proof, between weekend sleep and preventing depression. Consistent sleep schedules remain important, and extreme shifts between weekday and weekend routines can still cause problems.
However, the findings suggest that catching up on moderate weekend sleep may offer some protection for teen mental health. This is particularly true when weekday sleep falls short due to factors beyond a teen’s control.
If your teenager struggles with mental health issues or depression, knowing the signs of mood disorders can help them. Next time, it might be good to think twice before stopping this ‘bad’ weekend sleep habit. It could actually be a good thing.
