Adolescents' Suggestions on how to Support Their Sleep: A Focus Group Study.
Malin Jakobsson, Karin Josefsson, Karin Högberg
PMID 35253523WHAT IT FOUND
Adolescents want sleep support that starts at home.
They value parents enforcing routines and creating a secure, quiet environment. They reject generic school lectures, preferring interactive education that explains the 'why' and 'how' of sleep, and they need help managing the anxiety of silence before bed.
Key findings
01Adolescents identify parental involvement as crucial, specifically requesting parents to enforce family routines, provide a sense of security, and create a sleep-friendly physical environment.
02Participants found existing school-based sleep education superficial and ineffective, preferring interactive learning from trusted adults that explains the consequences of poor sleep and offers tailored advice.
03Adolescents struggle with the transition to silence at bedtime, often using phones to cope with anxiety or boredom, and request guidance on finding balance between daytime activity and evening rest.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was not randomized and was drawn from specific schools in one Swedish city, limiting generalizability. The study did not include adolescents who do not live with their parents, so findings may not apply to those in different living situations. All participants had access to basic needs (food, housing), so the results may not transfer to more vulnerable socioeconomic contexts. Data on comorbidities like anxiety, depression, or pain were not collected, which are known to affect sleep.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The work was supported by the Ebba Danelius Stiftelse.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence that specific interventions improve sleep outcomes. This study reports what adolescents *want* and *suggest*, not whether these suggestions actually resolve sleep difficulties. It is a guide to patient-centered communication and program design, not a validated treatment protocol.