Seattle: New research shows that teenagers who prefer staying up late, often called “night owls,” are more likely to act impulsively than early risers. The study, led by Riya Mirchandaney, a doctoral candidate at the University of Pittsburgh, will be presented Monday at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) annual meeting.
Researchers analyzed data from 210 teens who reported their sleep preferences and impulsivity levels, provided saliva samples to measure melatonin, and wore wrist devices to track sleep for a week.
Surprisingly, the study found no link between teens’ internal body clock, measured by melatonin onset, and impulsive behaviour. Instead, impulsivity was connected to teens’ self-reported preference for late sleeping and waking hours.
Night owls were more prone to impulsive actions, especially when experiencing negative emotions.
They also tended to give up more easily on challenging tasks. These behaviours may raise the risk of issues like alcohol and substance abuse, Mirchandaney said.
Encouraging teens to maintain regular sleep schedules might help reduce impulsivity. The results are preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
