Sleep duration and sleeping difficulties among adolescents: exploring associations with school stress, self‐perception and technology use

Sleeping problems are increasing among adolescents worldwide. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of self‐reported sleep duration and sleeping difficulties, as well as to explore their associations with school stress, self‐perception, that is how adolescents perceive their appearance and happiness, and technology use among adolescents. Data were collected in 2015 using a questionnaire. A total of 937 ninth grade adolescents, 15–16 years, from a city in western Sweden participated, resulting in a response rate of 83%. The result showed that 55% of the adolescents slept less than the recommended 8 hours per night and 11% had sleeping difficulties. School stress and technology use were associated with short sleep duration. School stress and self‐perception were associated with sleeping difficulties. The girls had worse outcomes for sleeping difficulties, school stress, self‐perception and technology use than the boys. Based on the results, there is a need for school nurses to implement preventive measures to improve adolescents’ sleep.