IRREGULAR SLEEPING PATTERNS LINKED TO POORER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Research has analyzed variations in sleep patterns including number of hours slept, quality of sleep, and sleep-wake times, and found an association with mental damages, health and performance. Few studies have considered the effects of regular sleep patterns.

Researchers studied 61 persons from Harvard College for 30 days using the diaries. They computed sleep regularity using the sleep regularity index (SRI), a devised metric. Researchers examined the relationship between the SRI, sleep duration, distribution of sleep across the day, and academic performance during one semester.

"Our results indicate that going to sleep and waking up at approximately the same time is as important as the number of hours one sleeps," stated Andrew J. K. Phillips, PhD, biophysicis.

Students with more regular sleep patterns had better school grades on average. Researchers found no difference in average sleep duration between students with irregular sleep patterns and regular sleepers.

"Using a mathematical model of the circadian clock, we were able to demonstrate that the difference in circadian timing between students with the most irregular sleep patterns and students with regular sleep patterns was consistent with their different patterns of daily light exposure," stated Phillips.

Researchers says that light based interruption, which is exposure to daytime light and less exposure to electronic light-emitting devices before bedtime, may be effective in improving sleep regularity.