A critical period when sleep is likely to be under greatest pressure is during the seniorhigh school years when academic demands are particularly intense with an increasing emphasison homework. Sleep habits vary with culture as do attitudes toward academic success. What isunclear is how well students from different cultural backgrounds balance the competing demandsof study and sleep and the potential consequences on their mental health. In this study, 101Asian-Australian and 297 Caucasian-Australian senior year high school students completed a standardizedomnibus questionnaire examining extracurricular activity (homework, paid work, sports,exercise, and other organized activities), sleep habits, and mental health (depressive mood, study/interpersonal stress, and coping). Analyses revealed that sleep habits and extracurricular activity variedwith culture. These differences were most evident on school nights where Asian-Australian comparedto Caucasian-Australian adolescents reported later bed and rise times and shorter sleep lengths.Although the total amount of time spent on extracurricular activity was similar, Asian-Australianadolescents undertook significantly more homework after school while Caucasian-Australian adolescentsspent more time undertaking paid work, sports, and exercise. Regression analyses revealed thatextracurricular activity including homework was not predictive of sleep length in either Asian orCaucasian adolescents. Further analyses revealed that predictors of mental health were most evidentin Caucasian-Australian adolescents. In the latter group, female gender, less time spent on nonhomeworkactivities, shorter sleep and daytime sleepiness were associated with depressed moodwhile female gender, increased homework time and daytime sleepiness were associated with increased study/interpersonal stress. These findings highlight the importance of culture in understandingthe role of extracurricular activity on sleep and mental health in senior school students.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Lushington et al. (2015) studied this question.