The Influence of Substance Use on Sleep Duration Among South Korean Adolescents by Sex: A Secondary Analysis

Purpose

Although insufficient sleep influences cognitive function and physical and mental health in adolescents, many still get less sleep than the recommended duration. Adolescent substance use, including alcohol and tobacco, influences sleep disturbance. However, sex differences in the relationship between substance use and sleep health have not been extensively studied. This study aimed to examine the effect of substance use on sleep duration among South Korean adolescents by sex.

Design and Methods

This secondary data analysis used the 4th Wave of the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey 2018 and applied a multiple regression analysis. Tobacco use and alcohol consumption were assessed by asking whether the participants had ever smoked or drunk alcohol during the previous year. Sleep duration was calculated based on the participants' reports related to sleep and awake times on weekdays and weekends.

Results

For male adolescents, substance use, either tobacco use or alcohol consumption, did not significantly affect sleep duration, whereas for female adolescents, alcohol consumption was found to influence sleep duration. Age and subjective health were additional influential factors for adolescents' sleep duration, regardless of sex.

Practice Implications

Interventions for alcohol consumption should be considered to enhance sleep health in female South Korean adolescents. Further studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of sleep health, particularly the effects of substance use, among male adolescents.