Starting school before 8.30am increases students’ risk of suffering depression and anxiety, new research suggests.
Early start times are thought to put pressure on children to get plenty of shut eye, which hinders their ability to sleep and puts them at greater risk of mental health conditions, the researchers believe.
Lead author Dr Jack Peltz from the University of Rochester Medical Center, said: ‘Earlier school start times seem to put more pressure on the sleep process and increase mental health symptoms, while later school start times appear to be a strong protective factor for teens.
‘Better sleep hygiene combined with later school start times would yield better outcomes.’
The researchers recommend students maintain a consistent bedtime routine that aims for between eight and 10 hours of shut eye a night, while minimizing their technology use before attempting to nod off.
