Research from the United States suggests that a good night's sleep has the strongest impact on academic performance and social connections among teenagers with mental health issues, reports infohub.kz.
Scientists at the University of California, Davis, published a study in the journal Psychological Medicine examining how daily habits affect adolescents' lives. They analyzed data from children aged 10 to 13 and looked at four key factors: sleep quality, screen time, physical activity, and diet.
The results showed that sleep is the main link between a child's psychological well-being and their achievements. Adequate rest has a decisive influence on school grades and the ability to form friendships, outweighing the importance of limiting screen time or eating well.
This connection was especially strong in teenagers suffering from anxiety and depression. For example, sleep disturbances account for over 36% of the decline in academic performance due to anxiety. The authors emphasize that screen time remains an important factor, but family attention to sleep routines can provide crucial support for a child's mental health.