Abstract
Objective
Commonly held beliefs about sleep unsupported by scientific evidence (ie, myths) among
adolescents and their parents/caregivers may adversely influence sleep-related attitudes
and behaviors among adolescents. Thus, identifying such myths with the goal of developing
effective evidence-based counter-messages has the potential to improve sleep health
in adolescents.
Method
We identified myths with a panel of adolescent sleep health experts (n = 12) using
the Delphi method in three sequential steps: (1) focus groups; (2) online discussion;
and (3) closed-ended questionnaires with which the experts rated myths on: (1) falseness
and (2) public health significance using 5-point Likert scales ranging from 1 (not
at all false/important for public health) to 5 (extremely false/important for public
health). Next, we explored the prevalence of the myths among a demographically diverse
sample of parents/caregivers of adolescents in the United States. Finally, we report
the counterevidence to refute each myth.
Results
Ten myths about adolescent sleep were identified by the experts using the Delphi method.
The most prevalent myths were the beliefs that (1) “Going to bed and waking up late
on the weekends is no big deal for adolescents, as long as they get enough sleep during
that time,” reported by 74% of parents/caregivers; (2) “If school starts later, adolescents
will stay up that much later,” reported by 69% of parents/caregivers; and (3) “Melatonin
supplements are safe for adolescents because they are natural,” reported by 66% of
parents/caregivers.
Conclusion
Parents/caregivers have the potential to serve as sleep health advocates for their
adolescent and support their adolescent's sleep health behaviors. Our study found
that many parents/caregivers endorse myths about adolescent sleep that may hinder
their ability to support their adolescent's sleep health. Future research may explore
methods for promoting evidence-based beliefs about adolescent sleep among parents/caregivers.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 27, 2022
Accepted:
August 5,
2022
Received in revised form:
August 4,
2022
Received:
April 22,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 National Sleep Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
