Adolescents experiencing sleep problems are significantly more likely to engage in self-harm, according to a comprehensive study involving over 10,000 teenagers. The research, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, found that poor or fragmented sleep at age 14—characterized by shorter sleep duration on school nights, prolonged time to fall asleep, and frequent night awakenings—predicted a higher risk of self-harm three years later.
This study emerges as self-harm among young people continues to rise, posing a growing public health concern. The findings underscore sleep as a modifiable risk factor, suggesting that improving sleep during adolescence—a critical period for intervention—could help reduce the risk of self-harm.
The Study and Its Findings
Conducted by researchers from the University of Warwick and the University of Birmingham, the study analyzed data from 10,477 teenagers within the Millennium Cohort to explore the relationship between various sleep problems and self-harm rates. At age 14, participants were surveyed about their sleep patterns, including sleep duration on school days, time taken to fall asleep, and frequency of night awakenings. They were also asked about self-harming behaviors at age 14 and again at age 17.
The results revealed that teenagers who experienced shorter sleep on school nights, took longer to fall asleep, or had more frequent night awakenings were more likely to report self-harming at age 14. These sleep issues also predicted higher self-harm rates three years later, even after adjusting for factors such as age, sex, socioeconomic background, and mental health.
“Using large-scale data like this really allows you to explore longitudinal relationships at a population level. In this analysis, we discovered that shorter sleep on school days, longer time to fall asleep, and more frequent night awakenings at age 14 associated with self-harm concurrently and three years later at age 17,” said Michaela Pawley, PhD student at the University of Warwick and first author of the study.
Implications for Intervention
The findings highlight the long-lasting impact of teenage sleep on self-harm, suggesting that sleep interventions during adolescence could be an effective strategy to support at-risk teenagers. Michaela Pawley emphasized the positive aspect of the research, noting that sleep is a modifiable risk factor. “If the link between sleep and self-harm holds true, and with well-placed interventions in schools and homes, there is a lot we can do to turn the tide,” she added.
While the study explored whether poor sleep leads to poor decision-making, it found that this did not explain the relationship between sleep problems and self-harm. Night awakenings may be particularly significant, as they disrupt REM sleep, essential for emotion regulation. Additionally, disturbed sleep might lead to ineffective coping strategies and impaired cognitive function.
Expert Opinions and Future Research
Further research is necessary to understand how poor sleep is associated with the risk of self-harm. Regardless of the underlying causes, the study emphasizes the importance of sleep during adolescence in preventing self-harming behaviors.
“Self-harm is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents and young adults. It is a sobering topic. Knowing that poor and fragmented sleep is often a marker preceding or co-occurring with suicidal thoughts and behavior, it gives us a useful focus for risk monitoring and early prevention,” stated Professor Nicole Tang, senior author and director of the Warwick Sleep and Pain Lab at The University of Warwick.
This development follows a broader recognition of the critical role of sleep in mental health. As awareness grows, schools and healthcare providers are encouraged to integrate sleep education and interventions into their programs.
As the research community continues to explore the complex interplay between sleep and mental health, this study provides a crucial piece of the puzzle, offering hope for effective strategies to reduce self-harm among adolescents.
