Self-Regulation

Abstract

This chapter, on self-regulation, covers student sleep issues, nutrition, and physical activity. Most students in both high school and college are sleep deprived, and this can be a major disruptor of mood. Stress, school schedules, and too much screen time have disrupted sleep. The typical American diet with fast food, high sugar, fat, and additives has been a factor implicated in the development of depression. Americans get much less physical activity than is recommended for optimal health. This is unfortunate, because physical activity both helps prevent and has been shown to be a treatment for mild and moderate depression. Teaching and modeling self-regulation will help students as they go away to college. The relative lack of structure in college requires greater independence. Female body dissatisfaction, which can lead to self-criticism and distorted eating patterns, is identified as a major force of dysregulation, and suggestions are made for promoting body-positive attitude and behaviors.