Department of Psychology
Sleep and stress in adolescence (TeenSleepStress)
Project description
Many adolescents sleep too little or report sleep problems as well as sleep disorders. As a result, concentration difficulties, school problems, problems in dealing with emotions as well as daytime sleepiness can occur, which shows how important this issue is. Furthermore, there are links between sleep and the experience of stress. In this context, various factors can lead to stress in adolescents, such as school problems, conflicts in the family or among friends, fears about the future, or relationship problems.
Therefore, the aim of the longitudinal project #teen.sleep.stress is to investigate different stress parameters in adolescents between 11 and 17 years of age with and without insomnia, i.e. to investigate the reciprocal relationship between sleep and stress.
On the one hand, the focus is on different influencing factors, such as (a) personal and social resources (b) stress coping strategies, (c) stress experience and stress sensitivity, and (d) the possible effects on memory and concentration ability as well as well-being.
Another important issue is that sleep disorders in adolescence often persist into adulthood. Due to this, another focus is to investigate the stability of stress and sleep indicators over time.
That is why the project will survey these aspects at three measurement points, with the first survey period beginning in May 2019. Participants will be surveyed again after a period of another six months, as well as after twelve months, in order to be able to look at the progression over time.
The results of this study may have particular application in health promotion interventions that address both stress and sleep in adolescents. More knowledge about the relationships is essential for the development and dissemination of such interventions. Therefore, this project seeks to gain relevant research insights.
Staff members
Dipl.-Psych. Sarah Bernotat
Maren-Jo Kater, M.Sc.
Anika Werner, M.Sc.
Student assistants
Lea Brands
Linda Dietrich
Mia Killian
Nathalie Ochocki
Theresa Tiemann
Lea Volmerig
Data protection and information
Data protection is very important to us, which is why we protect the data of our young participants in particular. More detailed information about the handling of data and the study process can be found here.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!