The project in brief
There is a problematic paradox in our society: while a constantly growing number of studies show the importance of sleep on brain maturation, cognitive functioning and emotional regulation, young people, especially adolescents, not only sleep less quantitatively, but also qualitatively; indeed, a higher prevalence of insomnia and phase delay syndrome is found in adolescents in comparison to adults, as well as more mood disorders such as anxiety or depression. These sleep disturbances are due to various biological and social factors specific to this very vulnerable population, but also usually to poor sleep hygiene and a lack of awareness regarding healthy sleep habits. This is even more problematic as adolescence is a fundamental developmental period during which the brain goes through key milestones, contributing to the shaping of social, emotional and cognitive functioning of the individual. It is therefore crucial to help adolescents sleep better, not only to improve their everyday life, but also to contribute to the establishment of functional habits that will persist in adulthood.
In this research project, we propose a 4-week workshop-based intervention for adolescents to improve their sleep. The workshops are inspired by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI) principles, and aim, through psycho-education, sleep data measuring, individualized feedback and relaxation exercises, at enhancing sleep quality and quantity in adolescents, improving their everyday functioning.
Before and after the intervention, adolescents go through a battery of cognitive tests to measure potential improvements. These tests consist of a memory task, a vigilance task, as well as a stress regulation task in a virtual reality setting. Additionally, during the whole length of the study, participants will wear an actiwatch and fill a sleep diary in order to measure both objective and subjective sleep measures, respectively.
