Sleep in young people: What works now and where to? A meta-review of behavioural and cognitive interventions and lifestyle factors

Objectives 1) Systematically review meta-analyses and systematic reviews that (a) explored health/lifestyle factors affecting sleep, and/or (b) investigated behavioral/psychological sleep interventions in young people (10–25-years); 2) Evaluate the quality of published literature, and, if an intervention; 3) Examine method and effectiveness of mode of delivery, to inform current clinical practice and research direction.Method A systematic search of Embase (n = 45), MEDLINE (n = 67), Web of Science (n = 375), Google Scholar (n = 138), and hand-searching was conducted. After full review, 12 papers were selected, 2 systematic reviews without, and 10 with, meta-analyses. Six examined associations between sleep and lifestyle/health, and six examined cognitive-behavioral (n = 4), or school education (n = 2), programs.Results Electronic media use, type of day (week/end), sex, age, culture/geographical location, substance use, family environment, and evening light exposure were negatively associated with sleep, in young people. Only cognitive and/or behavioral interventions of at least 2 × 1-hr sessions improved sleep.Conclusion This paper informs sleep recommendations for young people and advises that ≥ 2 × 1-hr sessions of cognitive behavioral or behavioral therapy is the minimum to improve sleep in young people. School-based sleep interventions do not produce long-term change.