Bidirectional associations between the duration and timing of nocturnal sleep and daytime naps in adolescents differ from weekdays to weekends.

Study objectives: Previous studies examining bidirectional relationships between nocturnal sleep and napping have focused on sleep duration, leaving a gap in our understanding of how sleep timing contributes. Here, we assessed the duration and timing for night sleep and daytime naps, to evaluate how the previous night's sleep influences the next day's napping, and how napping influences same-night nocturnal sleep.

Methods: We analyzed sleep diary and actigraphy data from 153 teens (males = 43.8%, mean age = 16.6 years). Participants who never napped were excluded. Nocturnal sleep-nap relationships were investigated using logistic and linear regression models separately for weekdays and weekends.

Results: Participants napped an average of 2.3 times a week. 167 school day naps and 107 weekends were recorded. Naps were on average 82.12 ± 53.34 minutes and the average nap onset was 14:58 ± 3.78 hours. Their duration, start and end times did not significantly differ between weekdays and weekends. Nocturnal sleep duration did not predict next-day nap occurrence or duration. However, on school days, earlier wake times significantly increased the likelihood of napping that day, and advanced nap timing. On weekends, later bedtimes and wake times delayed nap timing. On school days, napping longer than one's average shortened nocturnal sleep whereas on weekends, waking from a nap later than one's average delayed bedtimes.

Conclusions: Early wake times increase the likelihood of napping and advance the time of a nap that day. Naps may be detrimental to the same night's sleep only if they are long and occur late, as these can delay bedtimes and shorten nocturnal sleep duration, especially on school days.

Clinical trials: The Cognitive and Metabolic Effects of Sleep Restriction in Adolescents (NFS4), https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03333512, ID: NCT03333512. Investigating Preferred Nap Schedules for Adolescents (NFS5), https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04044885, ID: NCT04044885.