Teenagers' Sleep Hormone Runs on a Later Schedule

Teenagers who stay up late and cannot get out of bed are not simply being difficult. The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health says research shows that the sleep hormone melatonin works differently in teens than in children and adults. In adolescence, melatonin levels stay high later at night and drop later in the morning. According to the institute, this may explain why teens may stay up late and struggle with waking up early. Note the word may: it is offered as a likely explanation, not a proven one. The consequences are real either way. The institute states that most teens do not get enough sleep, which makes it harder to pay attention, control impulses and do well at school. It adds that getting good sleep at night can help support mental health.