Select Region
Let's Get Social!


New Study Indicates Later School Times Results in Improved Overall Wellness for Students

New Study Indicates Later School Times Results in Improved Overall Wellness for Students

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that school starts at 8:30 a.m.


Delaying school start times gives students more time to sleep, resulting in overall improved wellbeing, according to a new study published by Oxford University Press. 

The July 2016 study aimed to discover the short-term and long-term impact a 45-minute school delay could have on the overall well-being of adolescents. The study consisted of 375 students in grades 7-10 from an all-girls’ secondary school in Singapore. The school delayed its start time from 7:30 to 8:15, recreating the schedule so that school did not end later. Researchers assessed students’ self-reports of total sleep time, sleepiness, and well-being before the schedule change, approximately one month after the delay and again nine months after the delay.

The results indicated that, after one month, bedtimes on school nights were delayed by approximately nine minutes, while the times students got up were delayed by about 32 minutes, resulting in an increased bedtime total of 23 minutes.

At the nine-month follow-up, the percentage of participants whose self-reported sleeping time on weekdays was at least 8 hours increased from 6.9% to 16%, and total bedtime total increased by about 10 minutes. Students reported lower levels of sleepiness and improved well-being at both follow-ups.



In Singapore, where students are often encouraged to choose academic success over sleep, school usually starts an hour earlier at 7:30 a.m., resulting in sleep deprivation among East Asian adolescents.

“Starting school later in East Asia is feasible and can have sustained benefits,” said the paper's lead researcher Michael Chee, according to a press release. “Our work extends the empirical evidence collected by colleagues in the West and argues strongly for disruption in practice and attitudes surrounding sleep and wellbeing in societies where these are believed to hinder rather than enhance societal advancement.”

 

More Health Articles:

Daylight Saving Time Tips for Parents: Everything Parents Need to Know

Daylight Saving Time begins March 4, so use these tips for parents to help your kids transition through the time change.


Latest News:

Exposure to Touchscreens and TVs Can Disrupt Infant Sleep

A new study from Oxford Academic's Sleep Research Society suggests that touchscreens and televisions are disrupting the sleep of infants.


Family Activities:



Have a Laugh:

Best Memes of the Week for Parents

Here are the funniest parenting memes from Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit this week.
Caitlin Sawicki

Author:

Caitlin Sawicki, a former NYMP editorial intern, is a recent college graduate who will begin studying for her M.F.A. in Creative and Professional Writing in the fall. She loves going shopping, and her favorite animal is an otter.

See More

Featured Listings:

Master Jung & Yu Traditional Taekwondo

Master Jung & Yu Traditional Taekwondo

New City, NY Blending Korean culture and philosophy with traditional Taekwondo, Master Jung & Master Yu's school offers unique martial arts training. Our goal is t...

Camp Settoga

Camp Settoga

Pomona, Camp Settoga is a day camp located in Pomona, NY for ages 4-12 that combines traditional summer camp experiences with Jewish values, and a dynamic var...

Winston Prep Long Island

Winston Prep Long Island

Dix Hills, NY Winston Preparatory School Long Island is a leading school for students with learning differences, including dyslexia, ADHD, and nonverbal learning di...

Boostmatics

Boostmatics

All Boostmatics classes focus on essential math skills for third, fourth, and fifth grade to boost your child’s math performance. Register for a Boost...