Overview
- Very short sleep of five hours or less rose from 16% in 2007 to 23% in 2023, driving the overall decline.
- Insufficient sleep increased across all demographics, with larger rises reported among non-Hispanic Black students.
- The analysis of 2007–2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data found increases even among teens without behavioral risk factors.
- Researchers note that phones are not the sole explanation, highlighting systemic pressures beyond individual habits.
- Evidence cited includes later school start times improving sleep and depressive symptoms in a multi-school Minnesota study.