This Month in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine

M ultiple prior studies have suggested that the early start times of many high schools, as well as of some middle schools, may significantly contribute to inadequate sleep in adolescents. This study sought to examine the impact of a 30-minute delay in school start time on high school students. The delay resulted in a highly significant increase in sleep duration on school nights of 45 minutes and a substantial decrease in the proportion of students reporting not getting enough sleep. More importantly, students rated themselves as less depressed and more motivated to participate in a variety of activities and were less likely to seek medical attention for fatigue-related concerns in conjunction with the change in start times. The results of this study add to the growing literature supporting the potential benefits of adjusting school schedules to adolescents’ sleep needs, circadian rhythm, and developmental stage and of optimizing sleep and alertness in the learning environment.