Features June 2022∣Youth Hong Kong
Tracking teen sleep
T
eens need more sleep than adults. It’s not because they are all rebellious or lazy, nor is it solely because they are stressed. The brain goes through massive transformations during adolescence when hormone levels change and melatonin production is affected. Apps and trackers may help.
36
The biological changes of adolescence combined with irregular bedtimes and increased screentime can create havoc with sleep. During the school week, the chief determinant of waking up time is school start time so the combination of delayed bedtimes and early school start times results in inadequate sleep for many adolescents. In fact, according to a local study, Hong Kong people have a sleep deficit of up to 2.5 hours a night.
Does it work well? Apps and wearables can misinterpret sleep movement as wakefulness or record limited movement as sleep. Sometimes it is possible to adjust their sensitivity.
Sleep trackers currently available for home offer a less precise alternative to polysomnography (PSG), the scientific measurement of sleep which uses brainwavescanning electrodes and physiological signals such as breathing, movement and skin temperature. Consumer sleep technology is cheaper and more accessible than PSG and uses accelerometers or small motion detectors.
What to look for? While some apps and wearables tell you how long you slept, others analyze your sleep cycles. They can link your caffeine, food and alcohol consumption as well as exercise to your sleep and track trends. Those with smart alarms claim to learn from your sleep pattern and assess the optimal time to wake you up. All wearables should be comfortable and adjustable for night-time use. Some of the wearables are bulkier or lighter and you can usually select from a few strap styles.
Are they worth it? They can provide valuable insight which help improve sleep quality awareness. Many can conveniently track sleep and activity automatically and not all of them are expensive. Many basic apps are free.
