Insomnia in Relation to Academic Performance, Self-Reported Health, Physical Activity, and Substance Use Among Adolescents

Gita Hedin, Annika Norell-Clarke, Peter Hagell, Hanne Tønnesen, Albert Westergren and Pernilla Garmy
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Gita Hedin: Faculty of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, SE-291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden
Annika Norell-Clarke: Faculty of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, SE-291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden
Peter Hagell: Faculty of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, SE-291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden
Hanne Tønnesen: Clinical Health Promotion Centre, WHO-CC, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden
Albert Westergren: Faculty of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, SE-291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden
Pernilla Garmy: Faculty of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, SE-291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-9

Abstract: Purpose: Insomnia affects up to one in four adolescents and has been shown to have a negative impact on their mental and physical health. This study aimed to investigate the association between insomnia, academic performance, self-reported health, physical activity, school start time, and substance use among adolescents. Methods: A survey with a cross-sectional design was completed by adolescents (15–17 years old; n = 1504) in southern Sweden. The Minimal Insomnia Symptoms Scale (MISS) was used to operationalize insomnia. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between insomnia and self-reported health, failed school courses, substance use, school start time, family financial situation, screen time, and gender. Results: Insomnia (MISS ≥ 6) was associated with poor self-reported health (OR: 4.35), failed school courses (OR: 1.47), and use of alcohol and/or cigarettes (OR: 1.43). When the combined effect of self-reported health and physical activity were investigated, a combination of low physical activity (≤1 time/week) and poor self-reported health was strongly associated with insomnia (OR: 18.87). Conclusions: Insomnia was associated with other problems that in themselves are risk factors for poor health. This highlights the need for a holistic health-promoting approach to prevent insomnia, such as efforts to promote physical activity, school success, and the reduction of alcohol/cigarette use.

Keywords: adolescents; alcohol; cigarettes; insomnia; MISS; physical activity; self-reported health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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