Dionisos, V, et al, “Effect of Wake Extension and Short Recovery Sleep on Objective Vigilance and Subjective Sleepiness in Young Adolescents”

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Victoria O. Dionisos, BS; Taylor G. Christiansen, BA; Gina M. Mason, PhD; Daniel P. Dickstein, MD; Mary A. Carskadon, PhD; Jared M. Saletin, PhD

Adolescents often experience insufficient sleep, which influences next day performance in attention demanding tasks. Little is known regarding how wake extension and recovery sleep impact objective vigilance and subjective sleepiness in young adolescents.

We analyzed PVT performance and sleepiness scores on a baseline night and across an evening of wake extension followed by a short sleep opportunity.

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Ziporyn, T, et al, “Adolescent sleep health and school start times: Setting the research agenda for California and beyond. A research summit summary”

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Terra D. Ziporyn PhD, Judith A. Owens MD, MPH, Kyla L. Wahlstrom PhD, Amy R. Wolfson PhD, Wendy M. Troxel PhD, Jared M. Saletin PhD, Sonia L. Rubens PhD, Rafael Pelayo MD, FAASM, Phyllis A. Payne MPH, Lauren Hale PhD, Irena Keller PhD, Mary A. Carskadon PhD

Abstract:

In fall 2019, California passed and signed into law SB328, the first US statewide legislation explicitly designed to protect adolescent sleep health by requiring most California public school districts to start no earlier than 8:00 AM for middle schools and 8:30 AM for high schools. Recognizing the unique opportunity presented by the bill’s 3-year implementation period, a group of experts in adolescent sleep and school start times held a virtual summit on January 22-23, 2021 to (1) summarize the research on adolescent sleep and school start time change; (2) develop recommendations for relevant, refined, and innovative research areas and research questions; (3) provide input regarding research design, methodology, and implementation; and (4) offer a forum for networking, exchanging ideas, and establishing interdisciplinary research collaborations. Participants represented a multidisciplinary range of academic backgrounds including sleep and circadian biology, neuroscience, education, medicine, public health, mental health, safety, public policy, economics, implementation science, criminology, diversity studies, and science communication. This paper summarizes summit presentations regarding current knowledge on adolescent sleep health and school start times and key research recommendations from small group workshops on topics including research design and tools, methodological issues, sleep health disparities, logistical challenges in conducting school-based research, public-health impact, and novel and expanded approaches to research.

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Nesi, J, et al, “Digital media-related precursors to psychiatric hospitalization among youth”

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Jacqueline Nesi, Taylor A. Burke, Anna Caltabiano, Anthony Spirito, Jennifer C. Wolff

Abstract:

Digital media, including smartphones and social media, are central in youths’ lives. This study aimed to examine the role of digital media in psychiatric hospital admissions among adolescents. 343 psychiatrically-hospitalized youth (Mage = 15.2; 70.3% White, 13.7% Black, 33.9% Hispanic; 48.7% female) completed self-report measures of potential digital media-related reasons for hospitalization, patterns of digital media use, and clinical symptoms (internalizing, externalizing, suicidal ideation and attempts). Digital media-related reasons for hospitalization were common, with over 40% of the sample endorsing at least one such reason; 24.8% endorsed having their phone taken away as a reason for admission. Younger adolescents and youth with addictive patterns of phone use were more likely to endorse digital media-related reasons for hospitalization, including phone restriction and negative social media experiences. In addition, youth endorsing suicide-related social media engagement (e.g., posting or messaging about suicide) as a precursor to admission reported more severe suicidal ideation and greater likelihood of a recent suicide attempt. Limitations of the study include a reliance on self-report measures and cross-sectional design. Findings highlight the need to identify youth who may be especially vulnerable to digital media experiences that contribute to risk for psychiatric hospitalization.

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Mary Carskadon, Brown University – Adolescence, Sleep, and School

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by Academic Minute  05/10/2022 | 12:01

Many parents become aware of their child’s changing sleep patterns during early adolescence: they resist bedtime and stay up later; they struggle to wake up for school; and they are sleepy, tired, and irritable in the daytime. We have identified a “perfect storm” of biological, psychological, and societal factors that contribute to these changes.

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Grigsby-Toussaint, D, et al, “COVID-19, green space exposure, and mask mandates”

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Diana S. Grigsby-Toussaint, Jong Cheol Shin

Abstract:

Introduction

Mask-wearing and social distancing are critical prevention measures that have been implemented to stem the spread of COVID-19. The degree to which these measures are adhered to in the US, however, may be influenced by access to outdoor resources such as green space, as well as mask mandates that may vary by state.

Purpose

To examine the association between the presence or absence of statewide mask mandates and green space exposure with COVID-19 cumulative incidence in the US.

Methods

In October 2020, COVID-19 case data for each US county was downloaded from USA Facts, in addition to statewide mask mandates from a database maintained by the American Association of Retired Persons. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index from the US Geological Survey (USGS), was used as a measure of greenspace, while the 2016 National Land Cover Database was used to assess tree canopy exposure as an alternative measure of greenspace. We performed generalized linear regression to evaluate associations with COVID-19 incidence, adjusting for potential confounders such as other environmental factors (i.e., air pollution and climate) and socio-economic factors derived from the CDC social vulnerability index. In addition, we also performed spatial regression analyses to account for spatial autocorrelation across counties.

Results

Counties with mandatory mask-wearing policies had a lower cumulative incidence of COVID-19 (B = −0.299, SE = 0.038). Among environmental factors, precipitation (B = 0.005, SE = 0.001) and PM 2.5 (B = 0.072, SE = 0.012) were associated with a higher incidence of COVID-19, while tree canopy (B = −0.501, SE = 0.129) was associated with a lower risk of COVID-19. COVID-19 incidence was higher in counties with socially vulnerable populations regarding socioeconomic status, minority status, and housing and transportation.

Conclusion

Mandatory mask regulation, exposure to green space, and reduced exposure to air pollution may reduce COVID-19 incidence in the US. Additional public health policies should consider ways to mitigate environmental conditions that may contribute to the risk of COVID-19, especially for vulnerable populations.

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Burke, T, et al, “Sleep Irregularity and Nonsuicidal Self-injurious Urges and Behaviors”

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Taylor A Burke, Jessica L Hamilton, David Seigel, Marin Kautz, Richard T Liu, Lauren B Alloy, David H Barker

Abstract:

Study Objectives

The objectives of this study were to examine the relationships between sleep regularity and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), including lifetime NSSI history and daily NSSI urges.

Methods

Undergraduate students (N = 119; 18–26 years), approximately half of whom endorsed a lifetime history of repetitive NSSI, completed a 10-day actigraphy and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol. A Sleep Regularity Index was calculated for all participants using scored epoch by epoch data to capture rapid changes in sleep schedules. Participants responded to EMA prompts assessing NSSI urge severity and negative affect three times daily over the 10-day assessment period.

Results

Results indicate that individuals with a repetitive NSSI history were more likely to experience sleep irregularity than those without a history of NSSI. Findings also suggest that sleep irregularity was associated with more intense urges to engage in NSSI on a daily basis, even after accounting for average daily sleep duration, sleep timing, negative affect, and NSSI history. Neither sleep duration nor sleep timing was associated with NSSI history nor daily NSSI urge intensity.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that sleep irregularity is linked with NSSI, including NSSI history and intensity of urges to engage in NSSI. The present study not only supports the growing evidence linking sleep disturbance with the risk for self-injury but also demonstrates this relationship using actigraphy and real-time assessments of NSSI urge severity. Findings highlight the importance of delineating the nuances in sleep irregularity that are proximally associated with NSSI risk and identifying targets for intervention.

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