Open AccessSleep in an At Risk Adolescent Group: A Qualitative Exploration of the Perspectives, Experiences and Needs of Youth Who Have Been Excluded From Mainstream Education
Author(s) -
Josie Bainton,
Ben Hayes
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1945-7243
pISSN - 0046-9580
DOI - 10.1177/00469580211062410
Subject(s) - sleep (system call) , sleep hygiene , mainstream , viewpoints , qualitative research , psychology , relevance (law) , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , medicine , medical education , psychiatry , insomnia , sleep quality , art , social science , philosophy , theology , sociology , computer science , political science , law , visual arts , operating system
The sleep needs, experiences and viewpoints were explored for UK adolescents who have been excluded from mainstream education. Qualitative data was gathered through interviews with 9 participants, aged 11–15 years, who also completed questionnaires. The participants had symptoms of inadequate sleep, poor sleep hygiene behaviours and were not getting the recommended amount of sleep on school nights. Participants described sleep patterns involving often staying up late and having different sleep timing on weekends than weekdays and having difficulties with their sleep. Use of technology and the relevance of family were identified as important and associated with facilitating and hindering factors for sleep. Participants communicated that they lack control over aspects of their sleep and their lives. The experiences and views of the participants can inform professionals’ understanding of how to collaborate with adolescents to improve their sleep and highlight that continued development of sleep education programmes is timely.