Circadian disorders of sleep in adolescence: impact of the multimedia.

ABSTRACT

The teenage years are a period of particular vulnerability to the desynchronization of the biological clock. Beyond geneticfactors, puberty is associated with a significant delay in the circadian phase of sleep, responsible for increasing dificulties with sleep onset at night and thus with awakening in the morning. The prevalence of Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS) is high in the adolescent population, affecting up to 16 % of teenagers. As sleep needs remain remarkably stable, adolescent sleep phase delay causes chronic sleep depriva- tion and subsequently daytime fatigue or even excessive daytime sleepiness, and also metabolic disturbances, neurocognitive problems associated with decreased school perfor- mance, as well as mood disorders. Whereas genetic and biological factors have been investigated by a number of studies, research on social, cognitive-behavioural or psychological factors is still limited to date. Among the latte; the technological revolution of the past decades, most importantly exposure to screens- has significantly modied adolescent behavior. This article discusses the latest research on the complex interaction of these different factors. It focusses particularly on the impact of media use on circadian disorders of sleep in adolescence.