Are Students in Broward County, FL, who Get Less Sleep More Likely to Experience Depressive Symptoms?
Abstract
It is commonly known that sleep can significantly affect overall health in both physical and mental states, but can getting less sleep be an attributing factor to high school students experiencing symptoms of depression? In this study, we will determine whether less sleep is associated with feelings of sadness or hopelessness which are common symptoms of depression. Finding a link between the two could allow us to implement sleep education programs that would lower rates of depression in high school students. Using data collected from the 2019 YRBSS from Broward County, Florida, data was run comparing high school students who reported less than 8 hours of sleep per night and also had experienced feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Results were stratified by grade level (9th-12th) and for only 2019. We will compare the results of Broward County, FL, to the entire United States. Odds ratios will be used as a statistical analysis of the results. A trend in the data suggests that those who were feeling sad or hopeless were likelier to have slept less than 8 hours, proven through using an odds ratio. This was consistent throughout all grades in Broward County and the United States. In Broward County, high school students who got less than 8 hours of sleep had 3.5 times the odds of experiencing feelings of sadness or hopelessness. In the whole US, students who got 8 hours or less of sleep had 2.4 times the odds of experiencing feelings of sadness or hopelessness. If this data proves consistent when analyzing the other variables, the association between getting less than 8 hours of sleep and experiencing feelings of sadness or hopelessness can be proved. Although correlation doesn’t mean particular causation, one thing teens can do to maintain mental wellness is to get more sleep.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Christi M. Navarro
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-5-2023 12:00 PM
End Date
4-6-2023 4:00 PM
Are Students in Broward County, FL, who Get Less Sleep More Likely to Experience Depressive Symptoms?
Alvin Sherman Library
It is commonly known that sleep can significantly affect overall health in both physical and mental states, but can getting less sleep be an attributing factor to high school students experiencing symptoms of depression? In this study, we will determine whether less sleep is associated with feelings of sadness or hopelessness which are common symptoms of depression. Finding a link between the two could allow us to implement sleep education programs that would lower rates of depression in high school students. Using data collected from the 2019 YRBSS from Broward County, Florida, data was run comparing high school students who reported less than 8 hours of sleep per night and also had experienced feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Results were stratified by grade level (9th-12th) and for only 2019. We will compare the results of Broward County, FL, to the entire United States. Odds ratios will be used as a statistical analysis of the results. A trend in the data suggests that those who were feeling sad or hopeless were likelier to have slept less than 8 hours, proven through using an odds ratio. This was consistent throughout all grades in Broward County and the United States. In Broward County, high school students who got less than 8 hours of sleep had 3.5 times the odds of experiencing feelings of sadness or hopelessness. In the whole US, students who got 8 hours or less of sleep had 2.4 times the odds of experiencing feelings of sadness or hopelessness. If this data proves consistent when analyzing the other variables, the association between getting less than 8 hours of sleep and experiencing feelings of sadness or hopelessness can be proved. Although correlation doesn’t mean particular causation, one thing teens can do to maintain mental wellness is to get more sleep.
