A team led by the Georgia Center for Developmental Science at the University of Georgia reported that improving sleep may protect children from some mental health problems, especially in low-income families. The study appears in Translational Psychiatry and used survey responses plus brain imaging from three waves of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study.
They studied more than 8,000 children and found that economic hardship at age 10 predicted greater risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts at ages 11 and 12. Children who slept fewer hours were more likely to have trouble regulating emotions.
The researchers also found that stronger connectivity within the brainĂs default mode network, a region involved in emotion regulation and self-reflection, offered some protection. They recommend sleep screening in pediatric and school-based mental health programs, especially for youth facing socioeconomic hardship.
Difficult words
- predict — say something will happen in the futurepredicted
- regulate — control or manage behavior or a processregulating
- connectivity — how different parts are connected or communicate
- default mode network — brain network active during rest and self-reflection
- screening — process of checking people for possible problems
- pediatric — relating to medical care for children
- socioeconomic hardship — financial and social difficulties affecting families
- suicidal thoughts — ideas about ending one's own life
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Discussion questions
- Should schools include sleep screening in their health programs? Why or why not?
- How could better sleep help children from low-income families?
- What actions can parents or schools take to improve children's sleep?
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