‘Sleep Blindness’ in Science Education: How Sleep Health Literacy Can Serve as a Link between Health Education and Education for Sustainable Development

Anna Beniermann (), Martin Glos, Heike Schumacher, Ingo Fietze, Stephan Völker and Annette Upmeier zu Belzen
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Anna Beniermann: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Biology, 10099 Berlin, Germany
Martin Glos: Interdisciplinary Center of Sleep Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Heike Schumacher: Department Lighting Engineering, Technical University of Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Ingo Fietze: Interdisciplinary Center of Sleep Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Stephan Völker: Department Lighting Engineering, Technical University of Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Annette Upmeier zu Belzen: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Biology, 10099 Berlin, Germany

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-22

Abstract: Sleep disorders are risk factors for diseases such as dementia or diabetes, and cause enormous costs. Despite the crucial impacts of sleep on human health, there is little to no research on sleep and health in the field of science education. Although health education is an overarching goal of science education in school, the topic of sleep is rarely addressed. In the related field of medical education, empirical studies shed light on the impact of school projects concerning sleep health but are yet unrecognized by science education research. Systematic reviews demonstrate the effectiveness of school-based sleep education programs for increasing sleep knowledge but show contradicting findings regarding the impact on sleep behaviors. Lacking knowledge about healthy sleep is related to unhealthy sleep behavior. In this perspective article, we prepare the topic of sleep for the field of science education by presenting the state of research concerning sleep education. Using the connection between light pollution and sleep disruption, we present a concept of sleep health literacy in science education, argue for the implementation of sleep health literacy in science education curricula, and describe how the topics of sleep and light can serve as a link between health education and Education for Sustainable Development.

Keywords: sleep; sleep health literacy; science education; SDG3; health education; education for sustainable development; engineering; ESD; light pollution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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